FISHERIES AND SEAL-HUNTING. 81 



fish are thrown on to it with boat-books. An inspector receives, counts, 

 and registers all the fish which each fisherman delivers. The various 

 kinds of sturgeon — the "red fish," or the "fish proper," as it is called — 

 are measured from the middle of the eye to the caudal fin ; for the fish- 

 ermen receive more or less pay according to the different lengths of the 

 fish. The scale of prices, according to the length of the fish, is nearly 

 the same in all the " vatagas" of the Astrachan district. 



Four different lengths are fixed for the "belouga," (Acipenser Huso,) 

 3 "arsheens," (7 feet,) and over; 1 "arsheen" 10 "vershocks" to 3 

 "arsheens," (3 feet 9£ inches to 7 feet;) 1 "arsheen" 4 "vershocks" to 

 1 "arsheen" 10 "vershocks," (2 feet 11 inches to 3 feet 9£ inches;) and 

 1 "arsheen" to 1 "arsheen" 4 "vershocks," (2 feet 4 inches to 2 feet 11 

 inches.) 



The common sturgeon should measure 1 "arsheen" to 1 "arsheen "6 

 "vershocks," (2 feet 4 inches to 3 feet 2\ inches;) the "sevriouga," 

 (Acipenser stellatus,) and the " chyp," (Acipenser tSchypa,) from f "ar- 

 sheen" to 1 "arsheen" 1 " vershock,"(l footO inches to 2 feet 5f inches;) 

 the "sterliad," (Acipenser ruthenus,) from 4 to 7 "vershocks," (7 inches 

 to 12^ inches;) the "som," (Siluvus glanis,) from 1 "arsheen" to 1J 

 " arsheens," (2 feet 4 inches to 2 feet 11 inches ;) and the " sazane," (Cy- 

 prinus carpio,) from 8 to 12 "vershocks," (1 foot 1^ inches to 1 foot .9 

 inches) and over. 



The "soudak," (Lucioperca sandra ;) the "bersche," (Lucioperca rolge- 

 nis;) the "lestche," (Abramis brama;) the " besckenka," (Alosa pontica ;) 

 the " jeleznitsa," (Alosa caspica,) while other scaly fish are not measured, 

 but counted. 



After the fish have been delivered, they are cut, and the entrails 

 taken out. For all this work, there are special laborers, who display an 

 almost incredible amount of skill and rapidity, and who receive wages 

 which are fixed beforehand by free contract. 



The head and tail of the large sturgeons are cut off, and the belly is 

 removed from the pectoral air-bladder to the tail. The belly of the 

 smaller " belouga " and the common sturgeon is opened, and the head is 

 split as far as the nasal cartilage. The "sevriougas" (Acipenser stella- 

 tus) are split into two halves, and the entrails thrown away. The roe, 

 the swimming-bladder, and the dorsal cord, however, are carefully taken 

 out. These parts of the fish are handed to other laborers whose special 

 occupation is the manufacture of caviar and isinglass, which is carried 

 on in separate buildings. Laborers engaged in the manufacture of 

 caviar receive the highest annual wages. 



A large number of young girls and women are occupied in cutting the 



fish. They all wear a peculiar working-dress, consisting of breeches and 



a jacket; their head and half their body being covered. A sharp knife 



in one hand, and a little hook in the other, the working-woman begins 



her labor. Crouched with crossed legs on a straight bench, she picks 



up a fish with her hook, opens' its belly, takes out the entrails, and 

 6 F 



