But the most important fish in this lake is the Omul, which, both from its abundance and its excel lent quality, is of inestimable benefit to all the sur rounding country. The Omuls vary in size in different parts of the lake. Those caught near the mouth of the Selenga, rarely exceed two spans in length ; while those which frequent the bay of Tschivirkoui, are re presented by Pallas as enormous, though he does not state their particular dimensions. They bear a con siderable resemblance to the herring, though Gmelin asserts, that the only property which they have in common with that fish, is the glittering of their scales. Their flesh is white and tender ; and they are so extremely delicate, that they die as soon as they are taken out of the water. They are general • ly caught in the month of October, and, instead of being salted, are left by the fishermen to stiffen with the frost, which enables them to convey them fresh to the various markets, and to sell them at a higher price. Towariis the middle of August, they begin to divide into shoals, and to ascend the rivers for the purpose of spawning. It is remarkable, that they generally resort to the same stream in which they themselves were spawned, and there are some rivers that flow into the Baikal, which they never visit, though shoals of them may be seen near their mouths. They advance up the rivers very slowly-, halting regu larly where the current is least rapid ; and when they reach the ice, they are compelled to return. This fish, to which naturalists have given the name of sal pzo migratorins, is not confined to the Baikal. They
are supposed, indeed, to have come originally from the Frozen Ocean, from which they force themselves up the Yenissey, and several other rivers. Besides the spe cies of fish which we have already mentioned, several other varieties are found in the Baikal, such as stur geon, carp, and tench, devil's lampreys, (called by naturalists salmo oxyrrinchus,) and lenki, or salmo sal•elinus.
The fishery of this lake i3 farmed, and is ex tremely productive and valuable. It is prosecu ted during the whole summer, with large drag nets upwards of two hundred fathoms long, to which is fastened a strong cord of about fifteen hundred feet. The net is drawn up by means of a windlass, to which the cord is attached. Pallas describes a net which is likewise employed on the Baikal, and which is pre cisely the same as the stake-nets used in our salmon fisheries. " These nets," says he, " are formed by a small enclosure (or park,) with branches which ex•• tend some fathoms into the water. At the extremity of this park there are other small ones, which form two oval chambers, which are entered by a sharp angle. This angle is formed by the two chambers and the park which descend from the shore. The fish, entering the park, proceed towards the bottom ; they find at the angles a passage to penetrate into the chambers ; they cannot get out, becauselhe branches, or rods, are pointed at the opening, as in a net. This invention bears the name of KOTSI. It is not known elsewhere." (k)