FISHERIES AND SEAL-HUNTING. 89 



costs at the manufactory at least 18 "roubles," ($12.60 gold,) and at 

 retail it can seldom be bought for less than 1 "rouble" (70 cents gold) 

 a pound. The " balyk " made in March is considered the best. 



On the banks of the Koura, and in the trans-Caucasian waters, where 

 the " sevriouga " (Acipenser stcllatus) is caught in large numbers, 

 " balyk " is made of at least 300,000 of these fish every year. This 

 " balyk," commonly called " djirim," is not of the first quality. It is 

 dry, very salty, and is much sought after by the inhabitants of Kache- 

 tia, because it produces thirst and gives them occasion to quench it 

 with the excellent production of their vineyards. 



A large sturgeon of 20 "ponds " (720 pounds) yields 5 "ponds" (180 

 pounds) of "balyk;" a very large "sevriouga," 15 pounds; a common- 

 sized " sevriouga," 4 pounds ; and the common sturgeon, from 8 to 12 

 pounds. 



Manufacture of oil. — Oil is extracted either from the fat which in- 

 closes the entrails of the sturgeon and the Lucioperca, or from the 

 whole body of the Astrachan herring, (Alosa pontica and Alosa caspica.) 

 In the first case, the fat is taken out, washed, and cut into pieces, which 

 are thrown into a tub, with from 10 to 15 pounds of salt for the whole 

 mass. The whole is then well shaken in a caldron, and placed on the 

 fire ; this caldron being put inside a larger copper caldron, in which 

 the water is boiled, thus causing the fat in the inner caldron to melt. 

 When the oil swims on the surface, it is skimmed off and poured into 

 oakwood barrels. This oil is pure and has a light-yellow color. It is 

 used for cooking-purposes, and for softening caviar when it has become 

 too dry. 



Oil was made from x\strachan herring on a very large scale till the 

 year 1854, when people commenced to salt this fish. Other scaly fish, 

 even the " sterliad," [Acipenser ruthenns,) were used for making oil. 

 The period from April 15 to May 5, fixed for this manufacture, was 

 scarcely ever observed. This period is still considered the legal period 

 for the " vatagas" (fishing-establishments) located below Astrachan ; 

 while for those above this city, the time for making oil is between April 

 20 and May 10. Any person taken in the manufacture of oil before or 

 after this period has to pay a fine of 25 "roubles" ($17.50 gold) for 

 every day beyond the legal period. 



The manufacture of oil is carried on in the open air. The Alosa are 

 piled up in casks and tubs, and are constantly moistened with boiling 

 water till the oil separates and swims on the surface. The oil is poured 

 into barrels, and sold at from 2 "roubles" 75 "kopecks" ($1.92£ gold) 

 to 3 " roubles" 25 " kopecks" ($2.27£ gold) a " poud," (3G pounds.) It 

 is used in soap-factories and in tanneries ; it is also burned in lamps 

 and used in making oil varnish. 



The residue must be buried in the ground, and it is strictly forbidden 

 to throw it into the water. Any violation of this regulation is punished 

 with a fine of 100 " roubles," ($70 gold.) 



