A few placer mines have been opened on the Stikeen river, but no one knows the extent of the auriferous beds, in the absence of all 'prospecting' data.

I do not believe gold mining will ever be found profitable in Russian America.
The winters are long and cold, and the snows are deep.

The working season is very short, and in many localities on the mainland 'ground ice' is permanent at slight depths.

Veins of copper have been found near the Yukon, but so far none that would pay for developing.
Building stone is abundant, and so is ice.

Neither is of much value in commerce.
The fur trade was the chief source of the Company's revenue.