The following is the estimated amount of the number of large and small fish taken annually in the lower bran ches of the Volga, and the inlets of the Caspian Sea, and of their value. The account is extracted from the joint retin ns of the principal propiietors of the lisher:es, and those of the public brokers at Astractu , v, ho ate obliged to cei tify the exports of fish by ',emits. It exhibits the at erage of the returns for 4 ) ears, admitting only the lowest jai( es during that period.
Of the he lugas, or great sturgeon, the number is stated to be 103,500. Each lisp being reckoned at the price of only 21 tables, the value of these tvill be rubles. A thousand sturgeons produce about 71 pood of isinglass : the above number consequently 776 pow), which valued only at 60 rubles a pood, is 46,560 rubles. The roe or caviare of 1000 sturgeons weighs 100 or 4000 potted weight. The amount of the roe obtained from the whole will therefore be 10,350 pood, which, to n rubles, gives 36,225 rublcs. Thus the entire pro duct of the fisheries of the great sturgeon will aino Ant to 341,535 rubles.
Of the small sturgeon. the number taken is estimated at 302,000, which, at I ruble 30 kopecks, Hill give 392,600 rubles. The quantity of isinglass obtained from them, valued in a similar manner as above, will give 41,525 rubles ; their roe or cat fare 63,420 rubles ; mak ing in all accordingly the produce of this fishery, 497,545 rubles.
Of the sevrugas, the number obtained annually is stated at 1,345,000. Their price is reckoned to be 538,000 rubles. The return from these in isinglass
is rated at 100,875 rubles ; and in caviare, at 282,450 rubles ; thus making the whole produce of the sevrugas 921,325 rubles.
In this manner, the whole value of the sturgeons of different kinds, caught in the waters of Astracan and the Caspian Sea, appears to amount to the annual sum of 1,760,405 rubles, according to the average price. In addition to this produce, is to be reckoned that also of the smaller species of fish taken in these fisheries, such as carp, pike, and shads, which may be valued at half a million of rubles. The number of seals taken in the Caspian Sea, is to be also included under the head of the productive branches of industry. It is thus easy to perceive of how much consequence those fisheries. vt ith the considerable ones also upon the rivers that run into the Caspian, must be in respect both to employment and provision to the people in the vicinity, as well as to tilos,: who live at greater distances from it.
See Pallas's Travels ; Voyage dans l'Empire Ot4o man, l'Egylit, et la Terse, par (i. A. Olivier ; Coxe's Travels ; Tooke's View of Russia ; Guldenstadt Trca:. Von der Hafen ant Casneschen tneere in Aunt. St ref. for 1777 ;11ae kluyt's Collect. of Voyages ; Cooke 's Tra vels through the Russ. Enzp. to Persia ; Reese Journ. St Pet. ; British Trade over the Cas pian ; Robertson's India ; Bibliotheque Uni-urrse.7e des Voyages, par G. Boucher de la Richarderic ; V.:;yagcs Sauvebueuf, &c. (K)