96 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



then poured into barrels. In order that the skins, from which the fat 

 has not yet been removed, may not spoil, they are salted again, just as 

 it had been done on board the vessels ; 150 " pouds " (5,490 pounds) of 

 salt being generally used for salting a thousand skins, and only 70 

 " pouds " (2,520 pounds) per thousand for the final salting, before the 

 skins are stored in the cellars. Kalmyks are employed ckieily to detach 

 the fat from the skins. They spread the skin, with the fur down, on an 

 inclined plank, which they lean against their breast, in order to have 

 the free use of both their hands. Then, armed with a two-handled 

 knife, they scrape the fat from the skin. The oil, which is pure and 

 clear, running down during this operation, flows into a reservoir let into 

 the ground, holding 400 " pouds," (14,400 pounds,) and forming a cube, 

 each side of which measures one " sagene," (7 feet.) This work is 

 extremely fatiguing. A strong and experienced Kalmyk can, how- 

 ever, clean 500 or even 700 skins in a single day. The workmen form 

 associations, sharing their labor and their gain. 



The fat is then melted in large tubs, where it is exposed to the action 

 of steam. The oil flows through a funnel-shaped apparatus, and, finally, 

 through pipes into immense oak-wood reservoirs. There are three such 

 reservoirs connected by pipes, and let into the ground, so that the oil 

 from the first flows into the second, and then into the third, from whence, 

 through cocks, it passes into casks, which can be shipped as soon as 

 filled. Each one of these reservoirs has a diameter of 3 " sagenes," (21 

 feet,) a depth of 1 "sagene," (7 feet,) and can hold 4,S00 "pouds" 

 (172,000 pounds) of oil. 



The oil thus extracted forms the first quality. The second quality is 

 obtained by melting the residue in caldrons, and by pressing it. The 

 color of this oil is dark-brown. Before the residue is put into the cal- 

 drons, (capable of holding 200 "pouds" (7,200 pounds) each, it is thrown 

 into a receptacle with an inclined bottom, and the whole mass is stirred 

 violently by means of wooden shovels. This is done in the sunlight, so 

 that the heat may help to melt the mass. This receptacle is joined 

 to the caldron by a large gutter, which is walled up in the furnace. 

 Through this gutter, the residue is led into the caldron, there to melt, 

 which done, the mass is taken out with dippers and cast into a box, 

 which is then pressed. By means of this last operation, all the remain- 

 ing oil contaiued in the residue is extracted. 



The oil-factory of the Sapojnikow Brothers formerly manufactured 

 about 100,000 " pouds " (3,000,000 pounds) of seal-oil, which was sent 

 to Moscow, where it was chiefly used in leather-factories ; but during 

 the last fifteen years, this establishment has gone down considerably, 

 and other wealthy Astrachan merchants, among them Messrs. Vlasow, 

 Smoline, and Orekhow, have established several factories for making 

 the oil. 



The skins of the seals are used for making knapsacks and for cover- 

 ing valises. 



