THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE 391 



zone, along the northern coasts, and in point of size is unrivalled by 

 any other species. There are several modes employed for bear-hunt- 

 ing, the most common being by driving them in winter. They usually 

 lie up in November, and slumber till March or April. During the 



time when bears are busv choosing their winter quarters, . . 



Driving-. 



professional hunters track them in the woods, making 

 circles similar to those used for elk-hunting. When the tracks lead 

 no further, it means that the animal has squatted down for the winter. 

 The hunter then comes up to town and "sells his bear" for so much 

 per pood (32 lbs.), the price of the pood varying according to the 

 facilities for (jetting at the beast and the distance from the nearest 

 railway station. Some years ago, when bears swarmed round St. 

 Petersburg, the prices were comparatively low (five or six roubles per 

 pood), but now one has to go further every year, and prices have risen 

 to twelve and fifteen roubles, especially as many foreign amateurs 

 come to Russia for the sole purpose of shooting bears. It is often 

 stipulated that if the weight of the animal exceeds a certain figure, 

 the price per pood increases proportionately. Thus the price of a 

 bear weighing up to six poods may be eight roubles per pood, but if 

 perchance the animal weighs ten poods, the four odd poods may cost 

 twelve roubles each. It happens now and again that the man who 

 owns a bear sells him twice to two different persons in the following 

 wav :— The nieht before the beat, the beast is driven out of the 

 circle ; the drive takes place ; the unfortunate amateur, who has 

 probably come for miles, is told that the bear has somehow broken 

 back through the line of beaters. An agreed tip in case of failure is 

 handed over, and the same animal is circled again the next day, when 



