FISHERIES AND SEAL-HUNTING. 



G7 



Fisheries in the territory of the Terek Cossack's and of the inhabitants 

 of Mangyschlak. — This basin comprises two districts, that of Tcbetcheue 

 and that of Bakhteinir. The former extends eleven " versts " (about 

 six miles) along the coast; the latter fourteen "versts" (about eight 

 miles) from the Gulf of Bakhteinir to the possessions of the Scham- 

 kal of Tarki. In the sea, the extreme limit of the two districts is 

 seventy-six " versts " (about forty-four miles) from the coast. 



The right to fish in these waters belongs both to the Cossacks of the 

 Terek, and to those fishermen who, by paying a certain sum of money, 

 receive a permit from the military authorities. 



The fishing-basin of the inhabitants of the Peninsula of Mangy- 

 schlak in the northeastern portion of the Caspian Sea extends from 

 Cape Tiouk Karagane twenty-five " versts" (fourteen miles) toward 

 the north, and the same distance toward the west. It has an area of 

 six hundred and twenty-five square "versts," (about two hundred and 

 seventy- three square miles.) Only the inhabitants have the right to 

 fish here. 



Fisheries in the territory of the Ural Cossacks. — This exceedingly 

 rich basin comprises (a) the river Ural, to a length of six hundred 

 " versts" (about three hundred and forty-five miles) from its mouth to 

 one hundred "versts" (about fifty-seven and one-half miles) above the 

 city of Uralsk ; (b) part of the Caspian Sea from the mouth of the Ural 

 extending eighty-eight " versts" (about fifty and a half miles) to the 

 west, and seventy-eight " versts" (about forty-five miles) to the east, 

 and having a depth of 7 " sageues," (lb' feet 4 inches;) (e) all the rivers 

 and lakes in the interior of the territory ; (d) a great lake, called 

 Tcherkalskoe Mortso in the Kirghize steppe, which is connected with 

 the sea. 



All these waters are the undisputed property of the army of Ural 

 Cossacks. The fishing-regulations are very old, and have, till the 

 present time, been kept up by tradition and custom. The military 

 authorities see to it that these regulations are strictly enforced. For 

 every kind of fishing-industry, the military authorities publish regula- 

 tions, stipulating the time of opening and closing the fisheries, the 

 different formalities, conditions, &o. 



As soon as the Ural is free from iee, the spring-fisheries commence. 

 In the river, " sevriougas " (Acipenser stellatus) are caught with floating 



