VII.] A FISH CURRAL. 139 



peninsula. Xow, however, Melcova must be regarded as the 

 chief town of the interior, and its proximity — for it is only fifteen 

 versts distant — must always effectually keep its rival in check. 

 We were glad to get warm and partially dried at the house of the 

 head-man before starting again for this latter place. Some few 

 signs of cultivation were apparent : a few potatoes and turnips, 

 and a small field of rye, the first cereal we had met with since 

 our arrival in the country. It looked miserable enough under the 

 pouring rain, and probably had little if any chance of ripening. 



Three more hours of rain and paddling brought us to Melcova. 

 It was almost too wet for shooting, but we noticed two or three 

 small parties of the red-necked Phalerope (Z. liyinrhorcus) on our 

 passage. Those that we obtained were in autumn plumage, and 

 were most probably on their way to warmer latitudes. But few 

 duck were to be seen. They had in all probability betaken 

 themselves to the marshes at the onset of the rain, and the river 

 was devoid of life. Before reaching the village an elaborate 

 arrangement of fishing -stakes gave warning of the presence of 

 what in Kamschatka may be termed civilisation. The stakes 

 stretched right across the stream from bank to bank, but we 

 found a small gap at the side sufficient to admit of the passage of 

 a single canoe, and capable of being still further enlarged by 

 pressing down the stakes. The arrangement for taking the fish 

 consisted in the construction of small currals at intervals of about 

 fifteen yards. These were long bottle -shaped baskets on the 

 lobster -pot principle, furnished with doors opening at the lower 

 end, by means of which the fish could be secured by gaff or 

 otherwise. We learnt that there were very strict rules with 

 regard to the complete barring of the river at this spot. The 

 inhabitants are obliged to leave a free passage for the fish at the 

 time of their first arrival in the spring, and also on certain days in 

 the week or month at a later period. But for this arrangement 

 the people of Sherowmy and Werchni Kamschatka would of 

 course be without means of subsistence durinfj the winter months. 



