28 FISHING IN THE PRIAMUR DISTRICT OF SIBERIA. 
The expensive outfitting of the fishing stations, regardless of the 
rent period, is due to the fact that, in order to encourage better 
equipment, the Government introduced a clause into the rules of the 
rental contracts and the public tender conditions by which, in cases 
where fishing stations changed hands, the new owner must buy all 
the equipment from the former owner at cost price. In case the 
parties do not agree to the valuation of the property, the Department 
of Domains is authorized to appraise it, which valuation is binding for 
both parties. The practice of the last three to four years shows very 
satisfactory results from these conditions, and since the introduction 
of this rule many fishing stations have been improved and equipped 
to a greater extent than in former years. 
Sturgeon, perch, bass, carp, and many other fishes are caught at 
the Amur River stations, but the volume of their catch is not large, 
and the fish are consumed locally. 
Fishing on the Amur River is divided into two districts—the Mari- 
insk, or the lower Amur district, and the Khabarovsk district. 
Marwnsk district.—This district includes the area from the village 
Troitskoe to the village Sophiskoe, or a tract about 278 miles long. 
Of 147 fishing stations existing in this district in 1913, only 27 sta- 
tions were commercial; the balance (120) were given free to 18 Rus- 
sian and 49 native villages. ' 
The result of the 1913 catch of salmon was as follows, the total 
being compared with the two preceding years: 
Chum. 
Hump- 
back. 
Summer | Autumn 
run. run. 
1913. » | Number. | Number. | Number. 
FRVUSSIAN DCASANES oe. « wosicte suis cieisic sae sis a seme cies oe ceiss sca meee css aeimiecel emaceiteae 44, 400 480, 321 
Nati ves =< sia 4 a Sees c cia SS. 2x SSN Oe a eC ee Eee Bas ee eae 2 330, 334 
Commercialtishing ss ooo. oe.) S oon comte tinne cee see ste aes’ nciee ss gaeee asta | eee eee eee 32, 410 174, 401 
Total. so wtscgaessacin sca atcia «isialels ance mic cla sss bates niaiqalnie eye esicacle a aerate al eae 77,460 985, 056 
OCA) 1912 oo ooo ouic eisai nis whatcls we ee hige's w'eicc Oe sine ets cigess Ge saree ee 450 | 117,700 | 1,033,559 
Dotald ilies cs seus SS ge tery ss veh eos Boh or prey PY ie ne alg «Nate aA aye oy ea ea 78,461 | 1,118,770 
In addition to the fish prepared for home consumption, the local 
inhabitants put some of the products on the market, viz: Salted 
summer chums 73 tons, autumn chums 1,476 tons, and 68 tons of 
caviar. In addition to this, 116 tons of summer chums, 877 tons 
of autumn chums, and 62 tons of caviar were prepared by commercial 
fishermen. 
Khabarovsk district.—This district includes the river line from the 
northern boundary of the Mariinsk district up the river to Khaba- 
rovsk, about 127 miles. The district is very similar to the Mariinsk 
