THE URAL COSSACKS AND THEIR FISHERIES. 771 



one absolute power. From its early existence until 1723 the com- 

 munity was entirely independent in its interior home affairs. It 

 was a purely democratic republic, with an elected chief, or ataman, 

 representing the executive power. All governmental affairs were 

 transacted in a communal "circle" or general meeting of the 

 members of the entire community. In 1723 the Russian Govern- 

 ment first laid its hand on the independence of the community, 

 and since that time the election of the chief must be approved by 

 the Government in order that the appointment may be legal. In 

 1775 the communal "circle "was abolished and the community 

 entirely lost the right of electing its ataman, who since that time 

 has been appointed by imperial order. The only thing still re- 

 maining is the economic organization, where the independence is 

 very characteristic. 



To return to the fisheries and their importance in the life of 

 the Ural Cossacks. I should mention that the Ural River is the 



FIG. 4. FALL FISHING ON THE UKAL RIVER. CARTING BOCDARAS. 



only large river that is entirely given over to the fishing indus- 

 try, all sorts of commercial navigation being absolutely forbid- 

 den from Uralsk to the Caspian Sea (three hundred and thirty 

 miles) ; and more than that, in some places of the river, where 

 sturgeons collect for their winter sojourn, no one is permitted to 

 run a boat, to make any noise, build a fire on the shore, etc. By 

 the laws of the community summer fishing is almost entirely pro- 

 hibited, for the purpose of protecting the spawning, also for the 

 reason that fish caught in summer will not bring a good price. 



