FISHERIES. 1 1 1 



mation collected on the spot, about ;!, 248,325. In summing up 

 the separate values of the Newfoundland, Norwegian, and French 

 fisheries we arrive at the sum of ,?3,140,000, which does not equal 

 the produce of the seas, principal lakes, and rivers of Russia in 

 Europe. From this comparison arises two questions How is it that 

 vsith such an abundance of fish Russia exports so little ? and how is 

 it that such comparatively insignificant lakes as the Caspian and 

 Azov are able to rival in produce the greatest part of the Atlantic 

 Ocean and a part of the Mediterranean ? The first of these is easily 

 answered. Russia is inhabited by 70 millions of persons. Besides 

 this, during most of the religious fasts, observed on 150 days in the 

 year, fish is the oply animal food used. Russia even imports up- 

 wards of ,"300,000 worth of fish (1,500,000 herrings and from 4 to 

 500,000 cod, principally from Norway, besides sardines, anchovies, 

 and other fish used for sauces and preserves,) while she does not ex- 

 part more than ,'12,500 worth. The second of these questions can 

 only be answered by an examination of the natural history of fish, or 

 rather of waters. In the fresh or brackish lakes of the Caspian and 

 Azov every thing unites in producing abundance of fish the quantity 

 of organic matter, and the great growth of vegetable life, producing 

 again insects and infusoria, on which the fish are nourished. The 

 Sea of Azov does not exceed 44 feet and the Caspian 50 feet in depth. 

 This slight depth encourages an abundant growth of plants and 

 animal food for the fish. There is also another cause for the riches 

 of these lakes. The mouths of the rivers separate into many small 

 streams before entering the lakes. In these the plants grow abun- 

 dantly, and there the fish lay their eggs, the young fish being both 

 protected from their enemies and well fed and nourished. It is diffi- 

 cult to calculate the separate quantities of the different kinds offish. 

 1st, there are 4 species of sturgeons, of which the value is probably 

 about .1,200, 000. These fish are known under the commercial 

 name of red fish. 2nd, the fish used in the manufactories for oil, 

 &c., viz., the sandre, two kinds of herrings, breme, tarane, and smelts, 

 valued at ,175,000. 3rd, the cod, carpe, salmon, and 

 white salmon, valued at ,87,500. The salmon is found in the 

 North Sea and in the rivers. The white salmon in the 

 Volga, Dwina, and Petchora. The quantity of this fish amounts to 

 100,000 pouds, or 4,000,01)0 Ibs. 4thly, fish of the value of ,34,000, 

 navaga and chemaia. The navaga fish is found in the White Sea, in 

 the Gulf of Onega, in the Dvina, in the Mezene, and near the mouth 

 of the Petchora. It is little esteemed, probably on account of its 

 great abundance. A child may easily, in a short winter's day, catch 

 1,500 by line. It is much esteemed in the interior of Russia. The 

 chemaia is found in the Seas of Azov and Caspian, and they are worth 

 ,175,000. They are prepared like red herrings, and are mostly 

 valued where they are caught. Them is also the sprat, which is pre- 

 pared in great quantities at Reval, seasoned with spice, and put in 

 little glass pots for sale. Mackerel are only found in the Black Sea, 



