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quarters of the distance between the mouth of the Anadyr and the Amoor can be worked with reindeer, for the rest we will employ horses. The reindeer cannot carry a heavier load than 120 lbs, a horse carries twice as much and even more, but the price of the deer is considerably smaller, and I have good reasons to believe that round Shijiga and along the route to Okhotsk, I will be able to purchase reindeer from 3-1/2 to 4 roubles piece or the corresponding price in goods.

Clearing of woods and distribution of poles on distances bare of timber will be the most troublesome parts of our work, but with a good force of workmen and a sufficient number of reindeer teams and sleighs we can overcome these obstacles. The country from Shijiga to river Viliga having no proper timber, I can supply it with poles brought from other points and we can do this without difficulty with the assistance of our vessels and especially of the Steamer.

February 18, 1866.  I have selected different points, ten in number, on the coast between Shijiga and Okhotsk where our vessels can approach and discharge the necessary supplies. These ten points will be the depots and bases of operation of ten different working parties, that I destine for the central (Shijiga and Okhotsk) District.