114 RUSSIAN 



fathoms wide, with two wings, upper and lower. They drag this 

 along the bed of the river by means of two boats. Fishing begins at 

 sunrise, and continues till the distance determined on is fished. The 

 day after is spent in selling the fish to the numerous merchants who 

 follow the fisherman, and who prepare the fish in different ways. In 

 the upper part of the Oural fishing is only carried on in winter, 

 when the river is covered with ice. They fish here also in parties, 

 and the only instrument used is a hook. This is very large and 

 made of steel, with a wooden handle which may be lengthened ac- 

 cording to the depth of the water. Sometimes it is as much as 63 

 feet in length (!) fathoms). In order to keep it vertical, in the 

 current there is besides a weight attached to the hook, sometimes 

 40 Ibs. in weight. 



This mode of fishing commences at 10 o'clock in the morning, as 

 the fishermen have to assemble in their sledges from the surrounding 

 villages. The most profound silence is observed. A cannon is 

 fired as the signal, when each man runs on to the ice, and piercing 

 holes in the ice plunge their hooks into the water. The holes are 

 generally a foot or 14 inches in diameter, In a few minutes the ice 

 is pierced with holes like a sieve. By this time the hitherto half 

 dormant fish, frightened by the noise, begin to move about, and, of 

 course, soon get hooked. 



When a man feels that a sturgeon is on his hook, he draws it 

 gently up. This is not difficult with the fish in its half torpid state. 

 Sometimes, however, it happens that an enormous sturgeon is 

 hooked of the weight of twentymo fifty pouds, 800 Ibs. to 2,000 

 each. He then calls his comrades to help him, as the hole must 

 probably be widened. Sometimes the ice gives way after fresh 

 holes are made, and they become too numerous. This is the 

 favourite mode of fishing with the cossacks. The river is open to 

 the poorest, it only requires a man to possess a hook, a sledge, -and 

 some provisions of oatmeal the fish itself being too dear. There is 

 also a great deal of hazard connected with it. It is a kind of 

 lottery in which a man may gain more than ,"16 10s. in a quarter of 

 an hour. The value of the last-named fisheries is about .50,000 a- 

 year. The revenue which the Russian Government derives from its 

 fisheries is 800 to 900,000 roubles, and, adding to this what is derived 

 from the tax on salt used in the preparation of fish, the amount may 

 be reckoned at .333,300. The cost of the Oural fisheries, inclu- 

 ding nets, boats, &c., is not less thao .29,150. The fish is pre- 

 served in three different ways by freezing, salting, and drying. 

 The Oural produces 87,000 worth of fish in ice, and 95,830 

 of salted fish. In these large establishments the sturgeon fish is 

 placed in large caves, which are sometimes hollowed out of the hills, 

 and form long corridors frequently 100 fathoms in length supported 

 by wooden columns. On the floor of these passages and piled up 

 by the walls are large cases filled with fish. They often contain 

 from 40 to 100,000. 



