FISHERIES AND SEAL-HUNTING. 



91 



10. — PR10E OF FISH AS FIXED BY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE FISHER- 

 MEN AND THE FISHING-HOUSES. 



The fishing-houses pay to the fishermen whom they hire either an 

 annual salary, or a fixed price, determined by agreement for every kind 

 offish and the articles manufactured from hsh. The fishermen have no 

 fishing-implements, and receive these from the fishing-houses. They 

 are principally engaged for seine-fishing, serve as rowers, or work at 

 the "vatagas," (fishing-establishmeuts.) Russians very seldom hire 

 themselves out by the year, while the Kalmyks do this exclusively. 

 The annual salary is in proportion to their skill, experience, and dili- 

 gence. 



Those fishermen who are paid according to the number of fish caught 

 nearly all owu a little house, horses or cattle, boats, or other property, 

 which assure them credit at the fishing-houses, and serve as a guar- 

 antee for the payment of indemnities in case they do not fulfill the con- 

 ditions to which they have bound themselves by agreement. They 

 receive the earnest-money in advance to buy fishing-implements and 

 equip their boats. This subsidy is much more considerable for those 

 who fish in the sea than for those who fish in the river; for the former 

 must have a spacious, safe, and solidly-built sail-boat, and also a larger 

 number of workmen. Moreover, they are exposed to all kinds of priva- 

 tions and dangers.- 



Contracts are made in July. The fishing-year commences July 1. If 

 the year has been favorable, the fisherman, after paying back the 

 earnest-money, has a considerable sum left ; if, on the other hand, it 

 has been unfavorable, the fisherman finds it difficult to meet all his 

 expenses, and he is obliged to contract debts, which he is never able to 

 pay. 



Tabic showing the beneficial influence which the liberty of fishing in the sea has had on the 



wages of fishermen. 



Acipcnser huso 



(December 1 to February 15) . 

 Acipcnser Gulden stddtii, (3' 6") 



(December 1 to February 15). 



(2' 4") : 



(December 1 to February 15) 

 Acipcnser stellatus, (2' 4") 



(1'9") 



(December 1 to February 15). 



Adpenser Schypa 



• (December I to February 15) . 

 Heada of Acipenter huso .... 



The flshermeu have received the following prices 

 per " poud," (36 pounds.) 



£» 



a •> 

 ° S 



Eh 



$0 5G 

 1 CI 



91 

 1 61 



63 

 1 61 



91 



63 

 1 61 



52.' 



21 



i— T*-* 



o o 

 Eh 



SO 56 



26 

 91 

 26 

 63 

 26 

 77 

 63 

 26 

 521 



£0 



o o 



$0 70 

 1 26 



96 

 1 26 



63 

 1 26 



84 



63 

 1 26 



24i i 24 i 



"3 >> 



o o 



Eh 



§1 

 1 

 1 

 1 

 1 

 1 

 1 

 1 

 1 

 1 

 1 



111 



75 

 40 

 75 

 75 

 75 

 40 

 05 

 75 



ty 



75 



36* 



5 o 

 u ■** 

 Eh 



f 1 26 

 2 10 



47 

 10 

 0SA 

 10 



47 



1 76J 



in 

 26 

 10 

 36$ 



p o 

 Eh 



$1 54 

 2 10 



1 75 



2 10 



1 22£ 



2 10 

 1 75 



1 22J 



2 10 



1 54 



2 10 

 52J 



