7G REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



"nevodnik," does nothing else but cast and haul in the nets; while the 

 other, the "rybnitsa," takes the fish which have been caught to the 

 fishing-establishment, ("vataga.") The "nevodnik" is manned by 8 or 

 12 fishermen, with a pilot, who directs the fishing, and has the general 

 superintendence of the whole. On board the " rybnitsa,' 1 which has two 

 masts and is 30 feet long, there are 7 men, one of them being a pilot. 

 It can carry 1,000 "pouds" (30,000 pounds) of fish. A "rybnitsa" 

 costs- from 150 to 250 "roubles," ($105 to $175,) and a "nevodnik," from 

 100 to 200 "roubles," ($70 to $140.) 



The places in the river where seine-fishing is to be carried on must 

 have a uniform and even bottom, so that the nets can be dragged with 

 an even movement, and may not be exposed to the danger of tearing. 



According to the regulations, there can be only two seines in one and 

 the same place, while the number of fishermen is also limited; for there 

 must not be more than one fisherman to every 20 " sagenes " (110 feet) of 

 net. The fishing- places must moreover be one " verst " (3,500 feet) apart. 

 For catching the " Astrachau herring," (Alosa pontica and Alosa caspica,) 

 the number of nets is not limited; but, according to the regulations, the 

 meshes of the bag of the net must measure three-eighths of a " verschok," 

 (little more than half an inch,) and those of the wing 1^ square inches. 

 From the 15th of April till the 15th of May, these schools of herring are 

 so numerous that the fishermen attach a second bag to the first, then 

 again a third one to that, and do not draw the net on shore, but take the 

 fish out with a hand-net and throw them into the " rybnitsa." 



In tne sea, at a depth of from 5 to 7 feet, and especially in the spring and 

 autumn, seines are used measuring from 300 to 400 "sagenes, (2,100 to 

 2,800 feet,) and the fish caught are chiefly Lucioperca sandra, Lucioperca 

 volgensis, and Abramis brama, which at this time arrive in vast schools. 

 The wings of the seine are of equal lengths. As soon as the approach 

 of a school of fish is announced, the " rybnitsa" casts anchor, while the 

 " nevodnik " uses all its oars or sails going toward the school and grad- 

 ually casting the nets. On board the " nevodnik," there are a pilot, six 

 rowers, and two laborers. When the net has been cast, the " nevodnik" 

 joins the " rybnitsa," to which one of the ends of the seine is attached, 

 aud, all hands assisting, they begin to draw the net into the " nevodnik." 

 This last-mentioned boat is placed at a distance of one " arshecn " (2 feet 

 4 inches) from the " rybnitsa," to which it is joined by strong transverse 

 sticks. The net is drawn back underneath the hull of the " rybnitsa." 

 This must be done in an even manner, without any sudden jerks. In 

 order to deprive the fish of every means of escape, the net is drawn in 

 such a manner that the lower bolt-rope of the two wings slightly grazes 

 the outside of the boat. For this purpose an iron implement is used, 

 shaped like a heart, to the pointed end of which a loug cord is attached. 

 People fish only by daytime, and during the night the boats are drawn 

 on shore. It is very interesting to see the fishermen go out into the sea 

 to search for a school of fish. The experienced pilot who leads the ex- 



