A SCENE ON THE VOLGA. 197 



ance of stout tackle, brings his prey to the surface. A 

 skilful harpooner will take from eight to ten fish in a 

 day. 



On the Volga they are caught in decoys. A weir, or 

 embankment, is constructed with piles, in the centre of 

 which is left an opening into a basin or compartment, 

 enclosed with nets and osier-hurdles, and provided, like 

 the madrague, with a movable bottom, which can be 

 raised, when necessary, by men stationed upon the sum- 

 mit of the dyke for that purpose. 



The sturgeon, swimming up the stream, are brought to 

 a halt by the embankment. After awhile they find out 

 the only gap or opening in it, and drift into the prison 

 beyond, where they indicate their presence by unwittingly 

 setting in motion a number of small floating buoys, secured 

 by ropes. The look-out men immediately lower the 

 hurdles behind their captives, and the fishers proceed to 

 gather in their harvest. Some are taken immediately out 

 of the water; others are drawn up the river by ropes 

 fastened round the head ; but much care and skill are 

 necessary in thus harnessing the fish to avoid a blow from 

 the tail, which would knock a man down, and break a 

 limb or send him overboard. 



It is said that a regularly equipped flotilla sails 

 yearly in the rivers of Astracan to engage in this 

 important fishery. It starts in the winter, when the 

 sturgeon hide in the depths and hollows of the 

 estuaries, hybernating sometimes alone, but more fre- 

 quently sharing a common dormitory, where, it is said, 

 they suck in sufficient supplies of isinglass from each 

 other's bodies to keep them in good condition. The 

 expedition proceeds with infinite caution, for fear of 



