70 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



mains at Stavropol for the annual sum of 28,000 "roubles," ($19,600 

 gold.) The leases of the other fisheries yield the following sums : those of 

 Prince Dolgorouki, 7,000 " roubles," ($4,900 gold ;) of Count Kouchelew- 

 Bezborodko, 22,G26 "roubles," ($15,838.20 gold;) of the Astrachan Cos- 

 sacks, 29,574 "roubles," ($20,701.80 gold;) of the convent of Tchourki, 

 7,500 "roubles," ($5,250 gold ;) of the city of Astrachau, 1,803 "roubles," 

 ($1,301.10 gold.) 



The government possesses in the Volga and its several branches, as 

 well as in the innumerable lagoons and small brooks, ("yiryks,") sixty- 

 three fisheries, which are leased separately. The lease is for seven 

 years; the price of the lease amounting to 218,S39 "roubles," 32 "ko- 

 pecks," ($174,187.51 gold.) 



The administration of the fisheries issues special permits for fishing 

 in the sea. The price of these permits varies, and depends as much on 

 the season of the year as on the locality where people desire to fish. 

 Every boat must have its permit. In the spring, the permit costs 20 

 "roubles" ($14 gold) for fishing with stationary nets; in the autumn, 30 

 " roubles," ($21 gold;) and for the whole year, 50 " roubles," ($35 gold.) 

 For fishing with seines, a permit is required for each seine, which costs 

 100 "roubles" ($70 gold) a year, and 50 " roubles" ($35 gold) for half a 

 year. The seal-hunters pay for an annual permit G "roubles," ($4.20 

 gold,) and for a half-yearly permit 3 "roubles," ($2.10 gold.) A permit 

 for fishing in winter costs 25 "roubles," ($17.50 gold;) but those who 

 have already a permit for the whole year, or two permits for six months 

 each, receive the winter-permit gratis. 



There are in these waters every year about 14,000 fishermen, with 

 3,000 large sail-boats. 



Immediately in front of the mouths of the Volga, the limit of fishing 

 is indicated by twenty-two lines of buoys. These lines are formed by 

 beacons, or buoys, placed from 120 to 150 " sa genes " (840 to 1,050 feet) 

 apart, in the direction of 32 degrees southeast, and extend iuto the sea 

 fifty " versts," (twenty-eight miles,) with a depth of 3 " sagenes," (21 

 feet.) These lines are distant from two to six " versts" (about one and 

 one-fourth miles to three and one-third miles) from each other. The 

 two lines of buoys established before the mouth of the Terek follow 

 the direction of 45 degrees northeast, and go out into the sea sixty 

 " versts," (thirty-four and one-half miles,) with a depth of 4 " sagenes," 

 (28 feet.) "Corridors," as they are called, from five to ten "versts" 

 wide, (about three to six and one-third miles,) form openings before the 

 mouths of the rivers to let those fish pass which are leaving the sea to 

 ascend the rivers. Fishing in these " corridors " is prohibited. In the 

 space between the lines, the fishermen can follow their vocation till the 

 sea reaches the depth of 1 " sagene," (7 feet,) which is the case at about 

 twelve " versts" (almost seven miles) out at sea, but only with " palan- 

 gres;" while farther out at sea, at a depth of 3 " sagenes," (21 feet,) 

 they can use " palangres " and stationary nets. In the first case, the 



