70 FISHERIES AND FISHERMEN 



days, of which the Russian Calendar contains an exceed- 

 ingly large number, the demand is very great, the men 

 being hired for the season, and bringing their produce to 

 the vataga, or central establishment. Throughout the Oural 

 districts a guardian is appointed over each yatove or deep 

 basin ; and the most stringent precautions are taken to 

 prevent the fishes from being disturbed, even fires being pro- 

 hibited at certain periods. In the fresh and brackish lakes 

 of the Caspian, says Count Danilewsky, President of the 

 Russian Commission, everything unites to create an 

 abundance of fish : the quantity of organic matter and 

 the great growth of vegetable life producing insects and 

 infusoria on which the fish are nourished. Both seas are 

 extremely shallow, the Caspian having a depth only of 

 50 feet, and that of Azov, 6 feet less, whereby a great fertility 

 in plants and animal food is obtained for the inhabitants 

 of the waters. The mouths of rivers, too, separate into 

 many small streams before leaving the lakes, thereby 

 affording convenient spawning-grounds where the young 

 may be well fed and protected from their enemies. There 

 are four species of sturgeons, better known under their 

 commercial name of red fish. Again, certain sorts are used 

 in the manufactories for oil, and other products, viz. the 

 sandre, two kinds of herrings, breme, tarane, and smelts, 

 valued at 175,000/. Cod, carp, salmon, and white salmon, 

 may be estimated at 87,500/. Salmon is found in the 

 North Sea and the rivers ; white salmon in the Volga, 

 the Dwina, and the Petchora in very large quantities ; and 

 lastly, navaga is found in the White Sea, in the Gulf of 

 Onega, in the Dwina, in the Mezene, and near the mouth 

 of the Petchora. 



Turning from Russia and crossing the Atlantic Ocean we 

 arrive at an island the fisheries of which have been the scene 



