Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/191

Rh license to hunt and trap in New Mexico and California, as well as on the coasts for sea-otter. They had asked for an exclusive privilege, which proposition was reserved for consideration by congress. The object in view was to derive a revenue from the territorial wealth of furs, and by a contract with these foreigners to prevent the constantly increasing clandestine operations of other foreigners, whom no revenue laws could control. The idea was a good one. Such a contract with a responsible and powerful company was perhaps the only means by which Mexico could partially protect her interests in this direction; but there may be some doubt whether Exter and Wilson possessed the requisite qualifications, since little is known about them. It does not appear that the exclusive privilege was ever conceded, and nothing was ever done under the provisional permit. Vallejo and Alvarado say that there was a strong feeling in California against the scheme, and that when the two men came to the country in 1829, strutting up and down as if they owned it, Echeandía refused to recognize their authority, and they went away in disgust.

In January 1830 a small party — of Mexicans apparently — came from New Mexico to Los Angeles under the leadership of José Antonio Vaca; but of their purposes and adventures we know nothing from the fragmentary records. A somewhat better known

48 April 28, 1828, provisional license granted. Hunting parties must be made up of at least two thirds Mexican citizens. ''Mexico, Mem. Rel.,'' 1829, p. 22. Aug. 7th, the comisario communicates the concession to Herrera. Exact accounts must be kept of number, size, and quality of skins. ''Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Com. and Treas.,'' MS., i. 106. Dec. 23, 1928, gov. announces the license in Cal., and says that the parties will be allowed to catch otter. Dept. Rec., MS, vị. 162.