KAINSK 99 



river of the same name as itself. The exportation 

 of game from the numerous forests around Kainsk is 

 increasing. The most useful for export are black 

 game, which weigh from 2^ to 3 lbs. each, and can 

 be bought at 6|^d. per pair during the summer, 

 or IS. o|d. a pair in the autumn, when they can 

 be safely sent to England in special packing, and 

 including carriage, at 6d. per brace. A wholesale 

 dealer in London will pay from 2s. to 2s. 6d. each 

 for these birds. Ptarmigan cost gd. to lod. a brace. 

 .They are smaller than black game, weighing only 

 if to 2 lbs. each. Adding 6d. per brace for pack- 

 ing and carriage to England, they cost is 3d. to! 

 IS. !4d. per brace, and sell at is. each to the wholesale 

 dealer If necessary they could be cold stored at 

 Riga at a cost of 4jd. for 26 lbs. for twenty -eight 

 days. They are usually packed in stiff brown paper. 

 The best time to buy is from October to November. 

 W^hite hares can be bought at 2^d. to 46.. each, and 

 cost 8|d. to lod. for carriage, etc., to England, 

 where they meet with a ready sale at is. 3d. to 

 is. 6d. It is a risky business, and unless the English 

 firm can thoroughly trust the shipper it had better 

 be left alone, as the latter can buy old birds much 

 cheaper, and these spoil as soon as they come out of 

 the refrigerator ; on the other hand, young birds 

 will keep until the British public have time to buy 

 and cook them. The above prices were current in 

 1903 when I was at Kainsk. 



During the last three years birds have been ex- 

 ported from Russia at an average rate of 2,500,000 

 head per annum, and at an estimated value of 

 £158,750. They were sold chiefly in Germany ajid 

 Great Britain, and about 500,000 head came from 

 West Siberia. The feathers and down are sold at 

 the Siberian fairs. The quantity of feathers exported 

 every year for the last five years— 1896- 1900— 



