158 ANECDOTES OF FISHES. 



SOLOMJIANKA. 



The lake Baikal yields a fish peculiar to it ; they 

 call it solomjianka. This fish resembles a lump 

 of fat. When put on the gridiron, the oily fat 

 with which it is filled melts, so as to leave nothing 

 but the bones. It is never taken in nets, nor has 

 it ever been seen alive. It is supposed to reside 

 only in the gulfs of Baikal. It exists in the centre 

 of the lake, which is very deep : lines of three or 

 four hundred feet have failed to reach the bottom. 

 These fish are sent to the surface when the lake is 

 much agitated with high wind ; they are then 

 thrown on the banks, in such quantities as to 

 form a parapet on the shore. This proves a rich 

 harvest for the inhabitants, who extract an oil 

 from them which they sell to the Chinese. Pallas 

 had twice some sent him to Posolsk. The gulls 

 and crows will not eat them. A slight pressure 

 with the hand makes them melt to oil. 



Pallas' Travels in Russia. 



LARGE STURGEON. 



Three large sturgeons taken in the river Nyn, 

 near Peterborough. One at Allerton mill, seven 

 feet nine inches in length, weighed one hundred 

 and twenty-three pounds. Another at Castor 

 mill, was eight feet two inches in length, and 

 three feet in width. Another was five feet nine 

 inches long. Morton s Nat. Hist. Stafford. 



