DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE BUREAU OF FISHERIES HUGH M. SMITH, Commissioner FISHING IN THE PRIAMUR DISTRICT OF SIBERIA By Joun K. CALDWELL American Consul at Vladivostok, Siberia APPENDIX VI TO THE REPORT OF THE U. S. COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES FOR 1916 Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 844 PRICE, 5 CENTS Sold only by the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1917 Monograph A TE OFT ah MIT, ts a YS = = ae aoe regener =e ee ee MARES, Moe Beet Nad tie days \o nee ote, * uw CONT ENS. eRILUGHION 2.0 eR Stn 4 acts Tae ee, BOER MA ciC CSCS O'S arti as ee ae ana aie PADRE POL Aton. GIAIC MGS... 3 aa. meee home ei aesdle or sals b aajewe an Sauce ae Comparative cost of outfitting Russian and Japanese fishing stations..........- Peculicions poveriing Tiehermes.4. 5. bseptas-25-806. $0 +s -508e0 e-nebeeee ores Tg S saiteleliatede 71a Ris) a\"ae 0g (2) ee Baer et ee A ee ee gh Ae cee ee NTO IER RRGISUNNON pepe nH ty Re le ke eee a gs ad 2 BANS IPAUET CHISEL G tM 3 See Sane Bes 6 Oh, cy Mer ge ih Pore Saco ors eho A Paes Sako Pane em CHALEM CINGEIOL: fo) = anes See watt cw oot ote veteen senate PRLEhIEWeRtOnNGIninl Cue, Seat Soa ata ae Med aoc aaa eRe aod amnuin Bivier= sj 24 ees is. eel par! ee Sheen: Aad CV RA eS SE he ts EAE Mary: Of Camebiin LOWS 5 3. meine oa neh si bebe SE aiet Sree eects eg Papanese interest in. Russian fisheries... 2.).2 5.2 Ky i PON ek ara - Sd ihe ve. Bd nen Des hha Beste ba AIS ee . eon ae toe eee fe Pie sata i firrs . ree 7 r fe? 1 ARs “ rel. z : J ” 7 ‘ x2 . le my ' ' ’ 2 } : 7 i] POE Teng tmaniital ae jaivi ne Biya et aril ‘aati vie ‘ ‘ N ‘ J i : ~ LEAR b. AY Fife elit Bic) ERG fa! ie" FISHING IN THE PRIAMUR DISTRICT OF SIBERIA.° By Joun K. Catpweii, American Consul at Vladivostok, Siberia. INTRODUCTION. Fishing is probably the most important industry in the Russian Far Kast. It is the only industry in the district which not only attempts to supply the local market but exports to the European Russian and foreign markets. The fishing industry is entirely under the control of the Russian Government and is a State property, with the exception of a few fishing stations belonging to the city of Nikolaievsk on the Amur, which are run by the municipality of that city, and also a few places on the seacoast and in the rivers, donated to local tribes of abo- rigines. In the Maritime, Kamchatka, and Amur Provinces fishing is controlled by the Khabarovsk office of the Department of Domains. Admuinistratively the waters are divided into two classes: (1) Waters allotted exclusively to Russian subjects, and (2) waters open to Japanese fishermen by virtue of the Russo-Japanese Fishing Conven- tion of 1907. ‘The first class comprises rivers and their estuaries, lakes, gulfs, bays, and harbors; the waters opened to foreign fishing com- prise chiefly open seacoasts. Up to the present no foreigners other than Japanese have made any attempt to obtain such fishing rights. . Very little is known as yet as to the value of the fishing places, for practically no study has been made of the Priamur waters. The works of Braginoff and Soldatoff, ichthyologists attached to the Khabarovsk office of the Department of Domains, merely pave the way for a more extensive study. Some practical knowledge of the value of certain fishing places exists, undoubtedly, among private fishermen, principally Japanese, but it is not general knowledge. Therefore the Department of Domains has no way of exploiting vari- ous fishing stations other than by allotting them to the highest bidder at public sale, and even then being very careful to allot them first for a very short period—from one to three years. After a strict watch a The investigation on which this report is based was requested by the Bureau of Fisheries. Itis now published because of the value of the information to American fishing interests, particularly those of the Pacific coast. 4 : 6 FISHING IN THE PRIAMUR DISTRICT OF SIBERIA. of the amount of the catch, some idea of the value of the station is formed and it is allotted for a longer period—five years or more. Naturally under such circumstances this industry can not attain proper development. The fishermen are not better informed than the Government as to the value of the stations sought at the public tenders; often they over or under value them, and owing to their limited knowledge, either overstock the stations with men, salt, bar- rels, provisions, etc., and through a small catch suffer heavy losses or insufficiently supply the stations and, therefore, are unable to take advantage of a good run of fish. On the other hand, the short terms of the contracts make it impossible to equip the stations properly. Lack of equipment for preparing the fish, except in the crudest way, has resulted until very recent times in inferior products at most of the stations, but some of the Russian fishing stations in Kamchatka are exceptions. In order to encourage the Russian fishing in Kam- chatka and Tchukotski peninsular waters and in the Okhotsk Sea, and to counterbalance the Japanese predominance in these waters, in 1913 the head administration of the Agricultural and Land Organization gave to Denbigh & Biritch on a long lease a fishing station on the Kamchatka River (eastern shore of Kamchatka), and to S. Gru- shetsky & Co., one on the Bolshaya River (western shore of Kam- chatka). In addition to the usual conditions of the lease (payment of royalty, the prohibition of foreign labor, etc.), each of these firms was to build a fish hatchery in the vicinity of its station, the capacity of which was to be 3,000,000 salmon per annum. Each of the above lessees was to release 500,000 fish in 1914, 1,000,000 in 1915, and 3,000,000 yearly from 1916 until the expiration of its lease. Owing to technical difficulties, the release of the first lot of fish was postponed until 1915. By a normal development of this condition, which may become a law, each commercial fisherman will be compelled to release a much larger number of young fish than his catch. The larger interests will have their own hatcheries, where doubtless the smaller ones can buy- their quota. TRANSPORTATION DIFFICULTIES. The closing of the coasting trade to foreigners deprived the fisher- men of the possibility of making use of the cheap freight rates of foreign steamers, and has made them entirely dependent upon the Volunteer Fleet, which has a monopoly as a public carrier. The Volunteer Fleet is complying strictly with all the obligations imposed by the terms of its contract with the Government. It is making the stipulated number of voyages with the stipulated number of vessels, but as a matter of fact the number of steamers is not FISHING IN THE PRIAMUR DISTRICT OF SIBERIA. 7 sufficient for the trade. According to section 3 of the contract, the Volunteer Fleet is obliged to put on the line not less than four steam- ers having a carrying capacity of not less than 1,000 tons each and adapted for northern navigation. Each steamer must have accom- modations for not less than 20 cabin and 100 deck passengers, and regardless of the fact that the number of steamers has doubled, it is not sufficient for the entire satisfaction of the fishermen’s needs, thereby causing heavy losses. On account of the limited number of vessels, the Volunteer Fleet is forcedeto make long round trips to distant points with calls at many side ports. When leaving Vladivostok the vessels take on sufficient coal and water for the round trip. This occupies two- thirds of the carrying capacity and leaves very little space for cargo. These long trips force the greater number of the fishermen to ship men and provisions one and one-half months before they are required, and to hold their product a month after the catch is over. Owing to the long time that goods are on the way, the fishermen are obliged to salt their products very heavily, which tends to lower their price on the Russian market. Consequently, the fishermen are obliged to depend on the Japanese market. The high charges of the Volun- teer Fleet for loading and discharging, and charges for c. o. d. deliv- ery (2 percent), add 14 to 15 cents per pood of 36.1128 pounds to the cost of fish products from Kamchatka. It is claimed that so long as the Volunteer Fleet continues to be the only steamship company serving the fishing industry, there is not much hope of a healthy and normal development of the fisheries. Also, the element of risk to the average fisherman is so great and so hard to calculate, that the fishing industry, which in Japan represents a safe commercial undertaking, in Russia becomes a game of chance. Under present conditions the fishermen are subjected to the “following risks: (1) Late arrival at the stations with men and pro- visions; (2) inability to ship prepared products; (3) enforced pay of workmen for overtime spent at the stations; (4) impossibility of obtaining additional salt and barrels if the catch is excessive, and of replacing men in case of strikes, for most of the stations are visited by steamers only twice each season. From the time the fisherman arrives at the station, until his de- parture, he is without communication with the outside world. Although a. telegraph line was built over a year ago along the shores of Kamchatka, it is not in operation owing to the lack of operators and other difficulties. 8 FISHING IN THE PRIAMUR DitSTRICT OF SIBERIA. COMPARATIVE COST OF OUTFITTING RUSSIAN AND JAPANESE FISHING STATIONS. In order to emphasize the unfavorable conditions under which the Russian fishermen have to compete with the Japanese, the Chamber of Commerce committee gives comparative tables showing the cost of equipping an average Russian fishing station, catching about 60,000 fish and employing 30 men, and a Japanese sea-coast station of similar size. RUSSIAN STATIONS IN KAMCHATKA. e 30 men-for 5’ months, at. $20 per month... 2. .42 52.4... some eee eee $3, 000. 00 Returmapassacesior them at ho. EU aN see an see ee ee ee ce ais ae ener 262.50 Freight on 35 tons of provisions and equipment.................-...----- 200. 00 Freipht onl, 800 sacks salt) (90:tons))2.01u- 0Ie, Ee 405. 00 Freight on-155 tons ;prepared fish’ oi cls-epie- aie eee = eee ee 1, 284. 50 Royailtycon 1b aytomeis ot) he 8 ae ea eee 2A gar ieee oar a ae 229. 50 Ihand rentals ts. 25. 5325. Oe oe! lee REE ers chats Shep ga = eer ke ee 37.00 Gommiussion expenses: 2s) 522 ewes ters oe Aceon eons cine = Ce ee ee eee 313.00 1 800sacks' of salt ati6b centsis.. 0% 20 2 ee eee eee See eas ee eee ae 1, 170. 00 Netste. Nitiat iy Ped Oe, 3h ee eee ee 350. 00 Boatseelicndeia= deg cse dee Ge eo. 22 bh aig oot ae ae ee ee 50. 00 Dories\(mativie type) ea 2o Sa -c3-4 = ces Ane eee eee 300. 00 TImverd entals 2s 8258 cc 40h 5 Ve Mace cco 2 Se ec ee eee Se ee 100. 00 Total: teyacye: AS S42 228 es Ajaee dae pees CE eee ee eee 7,701.50 It must be mentioned that there are very few experienced work- men, salters and caviar makers. Those who have had experience during past years have settled along the coast and have their own undertakings; therefore the fishermen are obliged to hire unreliable men. There are no fishery schools in the country, and the lack of instructors and good foremen is felt more and more each year. The absence of credit institutions, which would make loans on fish, and the high rate of interest charged by private banks are also felt very much. 3 The Russians have no fishing fleet, but the Japanese possess a large deep-water fleet. According to the figures for 1910, there were 7,302 Japanese fishing sailboats, 49 fishing steamers, and 396 large fishing boats of European type, in addition to a large number of commercial vessels, which gave the Japanese a choice of vessels for the transportation of their products. Moreover, competition has kept freight rates low. Several small fishermen could charter a steamer on joint account, and in order to evade the rule prohibiting foreign steamers from navigating between stations, several stations could be rented in the name of one man and later subleased to the real owners. FISHING IN THE PRIAMUR DISTRICT OF SIBERIA. 9 In 1913 a Japanese steamer of 1,500 tons, having a speed of 9 knots, consuming from 15 to 20 tons of coal a day, could be chartered for about $100 a day. The chartering of such a steamer for 30 days, taking 20 days for the return trip (Hakodate-Kamchatka) and 10 lay days, would have cost: Romane; GO-CAYS Tate 1OO 21. tke. cuit Gk ME Pye te Arde My ee Sheree $3, 000 Coal, 20 days’ steaming, 400 tons, at $3 per ton................-.--2+2-- 000+ 1, 200 Boal 10day dave. 100 tons. at. $5 Dek GOR. onal ee ook ads tok eel ie 300 Stoner GS DCNSER. WMAXNMIUIN TGUTCS. 222M oe oa ete oe ah slong sts «re age 250 Total) sfc. aaa > SORE BE OT Ok ed Soar me eter 4, 750 Such a steamer would carry about 1,500 tons of cargo per voyage, and therefore the freight would be only about $3.17 per ton. If the steamer was chartered on the basis that it pays all expenses, the cost in 1911 would have been: ; Charter cost per day. SHUM ECLIS TS penne cite ern 3 cage Sens Sk ep aN re ange Peon tet ata = eee enya Ree ht $88 to $100 (DUO) (ROLSTE teres ner biee Sole Mea tetas Lie! (at yh ORT Os Ae de Be tet st ee 138 to 150 pS. HONS eee eA pe a: EL ER reg Se Te So ee alee 160 This would have been the cost when chartered by the day, but a monthly charter would have been at least 10 per cent less; a charter for the whole season, especially if made early—say, in March— might have been had at as much as a 30 per cent reduction. In this way the cost-of transporting fish from Kamchatka to Japan was one-third less than to Vladivostok. The cost of trans- porting workmen from Hakodate to Kamchatka was about $1.50 per man, one-fourth of what it cost for Russian workmen from Vladivostok. The same difference will be observed in regard to the cost of workmen. A Japanese workman costs a little over $50 per season, viz: Wages, $25; food, etc., $19.50; and commission on catch, $8.50. Also, there is never a shortage of men in Japan. The cost of a Japanese fishing station would be: Wages for season, 30 men, at $25 per season. .-....---.-2-..5.--22202-2-- $750. 00 Commission on catch........---.-- NA Wl A a ae 2 eS ome 250. 00 Chartering schooner 5 months, at $250 per month............-...-...-.-- 1, 250. 00 Food for 30 men, at $19.50 each per season..............--.-.---- Be 585. 00 PeeSpULis, SLe7o Cac Tor aU MICH. foes ae acces eee an aie ee oe gee ee eee 52. 50 ony or fishing station. 0.7%. 752228. AS RAR EIS. We OT Le 500. 00 Noteanddories (same as Russian): ys. scigtigs-erbj ha clogs eeclss gos ae- ae). 800. 00 i 800,sacks of.dalt.at.65.cents per sack. Sic 3 bocca h sere me dime = heats 2 1, 170. 00 otal awh INVA a ES EET es OAT: CREE 5, 357. 50 83689—17——2 10 FISHING IN THE PRIAMUR DISTRICT OF SIBERIA. Herewith is given a comparison of the working conditions of Russian and Japanese fishermen in Kamchatka: Russian FISHERY. | JAPANESE FISHERY. 1. The Russian fishing fleet is repre- 1. The Japanese fishing fleet has 7,302 sented by 4 motor schooners and 83 | sailing vessels, Japanese type, 396 foreign steamers. | type, and 49 steamers. 2. No Russian steamers are open for 2. There are a great number of vessels charter, and in the present state of the in Japan, and the strong competition local industry even a subsidized purchase | makes it easy to charter them on time or of steamers is not profitable. for the season. 3. Russian fishermen are bound by the 3. Having a schooner or steamer at his schedule of the Volunteer Fleet, are un- | disposal, the Japanese fisherman is able to increase their stock of provisions, | always able to communicate with Hako- etc., at will, and at times run the risk of | date, and runs no risk of not having his not arriving in time or not being able to | goods transported. ship the prepared product. | 4. Delivery of fish cargoes, including 4. The delivery of all cargo costs the discharging expenses, costs $8.40 to | Japanese not over $3 a ton. $10.50 a ton. 5. Transporting workmen from Vladi- | 5. Transporting Japanese workmen vostok and return costs $8.65 each. costs $3 each. 6. Wages per season for workmen (5 6. Wages per season for workmen are months) amount to about $100 per man. about $33.50 per man. 7. Equipping and running a station to 7. Outfitting and running a station to catch 60,000 fish costs about $7,701.50. catch 60,000 fish costs about $5,357.50. 8. Delivery of product to Vladivostok 8. Delivery of product to Hakodate costs about $8.40 per ton. does not cost more than $3 per ton. REGULATIONS GOVERNING FISHERIES. The method of leasing fishing stations for exploitation, as well as the regulations for exploiting, vary according to the local conditions. On the Amur River, within the limits of the Nikolaievsk, Mariinsk, and Khabarovsk districts, fishing stations are leased at public tender, written or oral. The placing of outfits for catching sturgeon only is permitted, except during the closed period, from the time the ice on the river breaks up to June 15-28, upon payment of a special ticket tax. For this purpose the supervisors of the districts make up a list of applicants for each district, and present it for ratification to the Priamur Department of Domains, after which public tenders are held in each district at the place of residence of ‘the supervisor. Some of the stations are leased for long terms and some for one year. No foreign workmen are allowed at the stations located on the Amur River. In the estuary of the Amur River foreign subjects are allowed to prepare the fish only, but not to catch them; the latter is to be done exclusively by Russian subjects. Fishing is carried on only by means of ‘‘zaezdka,’’ a special kind of hedge made of poles with a trap arrangement at the end, or by means of throw nets. FISHING IN THE PRIAMUR DISTRICT OF SIBERIA. 1] Arrangements with hooks are permitted for catching sturgeon. The length of the net and hedge is established for each station and depends upon the width of the river. All other conditions are of a secondary nature. The right to fish along the seacoast of the whole Russian Far East is open to Japanese subjects on an equal basis with Russians, by virtue of the Russo-Japanese Convention of 1907, which was con- cluded for a term of 12 years; the stations applied for, after being ratified by the Priamur Department of Domains, are sold at public tender, usually during February and March. The convention ex- cludes certain bays and gulfs, in which fishing rights are granted only to Russian subjects. There is no restriction as to the nationality of the laborers employed at the sea fishing stations or as to the method of preparing the fish products, except that the manufacture of fertilizer from salmon is not permitted. The use of vessels under foreign flags is allowed. Throw nets can be used, but they are being replaced by permanent nets, the usual type of which are called ““tateami.”’ In the bays and gulfs excluded by the Russo-Japanese Fishing Convention (Peter the Great Bay, Imperial Harbor, Vanina Bay, Avatchina Bay and several others), as well as in the rivers in the Okhotsk-Kamchatka distriet, the Priamur Department of Domains may, in accordance with an order of the Agricultural Department, grant fishing rights without public tender to trustworthy persons, first for one season, after which, if the business has been established on a firm basis, for-a term of 12 years, under the contro! of the Minister of Agriculture and Land Organization (law of June 21, 1910, per- taining to river fishing stations). A rental charge of 5 kopecks (24 cents) per pood of 36.1128 pounds of prepared product is made, and an unalterable condition im such Jeases is that the lessee is obliged to use exclusively Russian laborers and sailing vessels under the Russian flag. The use of foreign steam vessels is not prohibited by the administration. Throw nets not longer than the width of the river at the place of catching are allowed as are also set nets, the ‘‘zaezdka”’ of the Amur type, which consist of a barrier placed across the river from the shore to deep water and end in atrap. In Peter the Great Bay, in addition to the above, set nets and large drag nets are permitted. , The length of the “zaezdka” can not be more than half of the channel width; in reality a large part of the channel of the river where ‘‘zaezdka”’ are used is kept free to permit the passage of fish up the river. All other minor conditions of the lease are covered in the contract. i lps FISHING IN THE PRIAMUR DISTRICT OF SIBERIA. The catching of sea kale, crabs, shrimps, and trepang is now almost exclusively carried on in Peter the Great Bay and the neigh- boring coast; it is concentrated in the hands of small fishermen who obtain special tickets for this purpose from the supervisor of the southwestern district. THE FISHING INDUSTRY IN 1913. Along the extensive coast line of the Priamur district many varieties of commercially valuable fish are found. The northern waters of Tchukotski and Kamchatka produce mostly salmon varieties, the principal of which are gorbusha, known in Alaska as humpback or pink salmon; keta, the Alaskan chum, or dog salmon; kisutch, the Alaskan coho, or silver salmon; tchavitchcha, the Alaskan king, or chinook salmon; krasnaya, the Alaskan sockeye, blueback, or red salmon, and golets, known in Alaska as Dolly Varden trout. Dolly Varden trout are occasionally caught, when they happen to run with the salmon. Undoubtedly there are other kinds of fish in these waters, for in years past American whalers visited the cod banks of Kamchatka, but at present there is no cod fishing. Practically no attention is paid to any but the salmon, the principal reason for this being the almost total absence of local population and supplies, compelling the fishermen to obtain laborers and all supplies from distant places. As soon as the run of the principal fish is over the station is closed, the men sent away, and no one is left to watch later runs or to study the possibilities. Also the early winters would prevent late shipping of fish if any were caught, and the catch would have to be held until the arrival of the first steamer in the spring. The waters of the Priamur district are subdivided into several sections. Following is given a short description of the characteristics of each. NIKOLAIEVSK DISTRICT. This district comprises the whole lower part of the Amur River from the village Zimmermanovka down to the mouth of the river, about 300 miles; the River Amgun, 200 miles; the Amur estuary, about 150 miles on the mainland and about 130 miles on the coast of Sakhalin Island and about 865 miles of the coast line on the southwestern shore of the Okhotsk Sea. In addition to the regular fish-catching stations there are the salting stations, which do not catch but only buy and handle fish, caviar, etc., from other fishermen, mostly local peasants, natives, and industrial fishermen. These salting stations, as will be seen from the following table, are quite numerous. FISHING IN THE PRIAMUR DISTRICT OF SIBERIA, 13 According to official figures for 1913 the number of fishing stations of all kinds in this region was as follows: Kind of station. mane Term of lease. Annual : stations. rental. Government stations: Menining oe ot en eA) A AM, EI Le BT eee ee ar te SN Sauce ba a Sabai Sect My calc Ee Onecare eee OG Minpate meet tes rhe VAC etal ee aang ee 11 | 160,398. 10 Municipal stations: ripe (Becca Sey ee eee eee Ha Monee ree tae eae og BEIWOG ton 2 congener so SoJtuas Jnsvstesevotestencae ste Xo eae hearer tor Be Tha St Sah at, TRI a Ne ea NM Li LAO | DS, | Se ihe ks TU 85,099. 10 GrraTedtal wee bond Me ETA LL Mr pall a a a hy 245, 497. 20 In addition to the above stations 53 Russian villages and over 122 native settlements participated in the fishing industry. In 1913 the run of humpback salmon, which began in the estuary on June 16 and in the river June 18 or 19, lasted during the whole season; this species was also found in the autumn chum run. The run was above the average and almost equal to the run of 1912. At the Government stations below Nikolaievsk 2,845,687 fish were caught, at the municipal stations 2,731,546, and at the Government stations above Nikolaievsk 111,000, while only 1,780,561 fish were caught by the local population. The summer and autumn runs of chum salmon were very irregular, especially the autumn run, which was divided into four separate runs, the last of which was so un- expected that many fishermen had already closed their stations for the season before it appeared. | * The Nikolaievsk district was formerly the chief source of supply of fish to Japan, and the great majority of Nikolaievsk fishermen were largely dependent upon Japan, not only for a market but also for working capital. The Japanese, however, finally offered such low prices for the fish and made the credit conditions so unfavorable that the fishermen were compelled to look for another outlet for their product. Such an outlet was found in European Russia, and the secret of success of this new departure of the business was salmon caviar. Only a few years ago salmon caviar was almost an inedible product ; it was carelessly prepared, crumpled, and poorly packed. About six or seven years ago the Volga River black caviar dealers became interested in the Amur salmon caviar and began to experiment with it. They introduced cleaner and more careful methods of washing and a better method of packing it, with satisfactory results. The caviar was thoroughly tested, stood transportation, and gradually 14 FISHING IN THE PRIAMUR DISTRICT OF SIBERIA. came to be one of the most valuable by-products of the fishing industry, commanding a much higher price than the fish itself. The newcomers also changed the method of salting fish, and instead of producing crude briny fish prepared with inferior salt from Japan they carefully selected the fish and thoroughly washed and mildly salted them with the best salt. The resulting product, called ‘“‘semga,’’ is similar to European cured salmon. The best qualities stand the railway transportation to European Russia, where they command a very high price. The Government met the fishermen halfway by lowering the freight rates and by extending more liberal credits through the Government bank, as is shown in the following extract from an order of the Government bank regarding loans to fishermen, against prom- issory notes with one signature for working capital: With a view to extending credit to the fishermen of the far east the Government bank has found it possible to allow the issuance of loans to the fishermen for working capital against the following guaranties: 1. Fishing equipment; mortgages on fishing property and buildings. 2. Real estate, situated outside the fishing station, or a sold warranty. All applications of fishermen are to be submitted, in accordance with clauses 30 and 65 of the bank’s by-laws, for approval of the discount and loan committee of the branch, and forwarded to the council of the bank for ratification. Further, in view of the fact that the property which is to serve as a guaranty for the loan is situated on land rented from the Government, and taking into consider- ation the special conditions of the rental of these lands, the bank has found it neces- sary to establish, in agreement with the Department of Land Organization and Agri- culture, the following regulations: 1. Credits will be opened only after an investigation of the financial standing of the fisherman, made with the assistance of a local representative of the Priamur branch of the Department of Domains. 2. Credits will be in accordance with the verified appraisement of the fishing property made by the Priamur branch of the Department of Domains. 3. When opening a credit against goods, a special notarial application to the De- partment of Domains is to be made by the borrower, stating that he gives the Depart- ment of Domains the right to cancel his rent contract at the first demand of the Government bank, and to use money deposited and sums due to him for the property, for the purpose of paying his debts to the bank. 4. The application mentioned in paragraph 3 is to contain a clause by which the borrower agrees not to remove any buildings at the fishing stations, nor to turn them over to another person without having obtained the required permit from the bank. 5. The application mentioned in paragraph 3 is to be turned over by the bank to the Priamur branch of the Department of Domains with the request that the bank be assured that the conditions of the application will be carried out by the Department of Domains. The Japanese, realizing their mistake, have put up a strong fight for the Nikolaievsk district. As late as 1913 the Japanese firm P. N. Shimada, at Nikolaievsk, offered the Nikolaievsk fishermen the following prices for fish prepared in Japanese style: Summer hump- FISHING IN THE PRIAMUR DISTRICT OF SIBERIA. 15 back salmon $1.25, summer chum salmon $3.50, and autumn chum salmon $7 per 100 fish, the salt to be supplied free by Shimada. This proposal did not meet with much success. The following tables show by species the catch of salmon in the Nikolaievsk district and the quantity prepared for the Russian mar- ket, 1909 to 1913: Catch. Prepared for Russian market. Years. Chum. | Chum Hump- =| Sop = eee i | Caviar. back. Summer Autumn back. | Summer Autumn run. run, run. run, . |— wn! |- Number. Number. Number. Number. | Number. Number. Tons. KT0 0) See See Lee 2, 209, 433 9, 574, 285 | 4, 858, 099 145, 373 | 877, 423 1,398, 416 1,040 Is Soe eee ea 5, 076, 286 | 12,536, 174 5, 814, 498 1, 005, 274 2,497, 165 1, 975, 033 1,397 The) Ie Se 2,621,449 | 10,749,482 | 4,686, 236 523,338 | 2,197,168 | 2,424,890 1,123 (MY pat aE ee ne ane 5, 822, 729 7,199,309 | 3,669,073 1,154,913 | 4,009,574 2, 886, 869 1,171 UG) 5 ee Oe eee 5, 688, 233 7,985,579 | 4,324,187 4,806,629 — , 608, 804 3,212, 499 1,107 The number of salmon—tresh, salted, and frozen—delivered to Japanese buyers, 1909 to 1914, was, by species, as follows: { Fresh and salted. Frozen , Hump- Years. Chum, | Chum, back ead Chum, Humpback.| summer | autumn chum, autumn run. run. summer run. run. TOUORE cme ee kee EE MY Re POET 4! 2,029,200 | 8,733,623 | 3,510, 847 48, 463 157, 081 UNTO) Soe SE Meiers cg eae a eee a ean 4,071,012 | 10,039,101 | 3,195,506 15, 000 343, 959 (RO ope Gada tesae 5 eae ae ere te er pe tee aE 2,081,625 | 8,025,216 | 2,368,798 105, 328 129, 801 GN 2 Sees Se eed ae ee a Se Py 4,686,016 | 3,295,603 | 780,303 | 102, 000 120, 000 Sy Res Peter the ta, A Soe Pee ae Saale eae $81,604 | 1,231,775 | 953, 688 | 118, 000 158, 000 In 1913 in the Nikolaievsk district salmon were prepared for the Russian and other than Japanese markets, as follows: | | | Chum, Chum, una summer autumn ee TR RN ee | Ok) Tela | Tons. Tons. | Tons. enn TA eee ae SORA EEE YAEL Be 5,920 16, 794 14, 918 eee galas Cee eae eae ee asec coone ene ees soe 284 5 8 core Seer codekeaece se Shedd seer Oe Septic es Sete a sadeeers 15 41 527 These figures show the small quantity of fish that is canned in this district. Some experts claim that the Amur salmon is not suitable for canning purposes. In the whole district there is only 16 FISHING IN THE PRIAMUR DISTRICT OF SIBERIA. one canning factory, that of W. J. Miller, the 1913 output of which is shown in the following table: 4 Value per Quantity case. Hrumphock and chum salmon: Cases. Cans. Natural, round cans..-......---- BREN Te ace oat dee eek Jha oe aoe 600 28, 800 $3. 90 In jelly, TAPER PERTCLAS os) etre ane PR Bek aC se aoa 58 3,480 6. 00 Initomatoes Ovalicansseeene nse. = as see oleae = Soc 64 3, 200 9. 00 Pickledsovalicanse22 cle css ete eS... - HUT RE eae terse eek 132 6, 600 9. 00 TnibomeavOsssLOUNGIGAIS a8 ene ee ao ela eee nna eer eer 486 24,300 7. 00 ledve)id Gob yeCoyblo to Wer ials| ad Sees ee AS ee SS See ape 41 2,050 7. 00 In tomatoes, imovbhete | cWtetha sis Wee Ae eE BORA seenaeeesort mst aeocesuoeEsce | 237 23,700 10. 00 Pickled, round 3 PI CATIS MG c eee ese See tin eee Sete ole NSIEY tte eee aero 70 7,000 10. 00 D0) Fr | ede Lie Oa PRR ily eee he RS RY cs Been ear d/S es et cs | 1, 688 99 130t es eee eee Citgltary eee e SIAY Sale ou 9. so UA OE a i he Ng | 53 4,420 20. 40 Sturgeon: In tomatoes and pickled, square } cans. ......--..--.----------------- 60 6, 000 18. 00 In tomatoes and pickled, square i CaS 0 Use et eee ae se enomecion eae 15 750 16. 00 Gey i le Rees MR I GL nS Sp a Rs Ea Seton ae ctr aaa 75 6,750 ||/¢-2es see In 1913, by the steamer Broadmore, the following frozen fish were shipped: Chum salmon (summer run), 118,000, at $6.25 per 100 fish, and chum salmon (autumn run), 108,000, at $12.50 per hundred. Also, 50,000 fish were taken up the river in a refrigerating barge. SAKHALIN DISTRICT. This district includes the entire coast line of Sakhalin Island with the exception of that facing the Amur estuary, which belongs to the Nikolaievsk district. It is the smallest district and is now of no great importance. Before the Russo-Japanese War it was the most im- portant district so far as herring fishing was concerned. The richest local fishermen, Semenoff, Denbigh, Biritch, and others, made their fortunes here. The 1913 catch was not good, due to storms and a poor run of herring, the principal fish of the district. The catch was as follows: 2 Chum Humpback Ee SS, salmon. | salmon. | Herrine- BO SHAS SESS Loss aetna eee Obes aacoae SESE SE rn ES At ero area 31, 000 | 286,000 | 12,640,000 DS Ds Se eT Ee AA ete A BO ei AAA emereha Sen oe MS anc os 16, 000 | 126,000 ; 14,036, 000 IGIS Meee e oc se ce SE PREG Oe cy aS eee RE eM See ete 5 oe 38, 000 | 183, 000 | 4, 483, 000 The product prepared amounted to 1,212 tons in 1911, 1,068 tons in 1912, and only 690 tons in 1913. In 1913 there were 14 stations on the island, of which 2 fish- catching and 2 fish-salting stations were in nonconventional waters, and 10 in conventional waters, 5 of the latter belonging to Russian and 5 to Japanese fishermen. FISHING IN THE PRIAMUR DISTRICT OF SIBERIA. LY The catch in 1913 was made into the following products: Tons Poem Cece burial MCT HOG ees Ut. 2. aude mn bicdehic ck aueaeon cr . Mabee eee 79 Breen sso Se CNOU .. cee ets. ce ee oa ee ot ee en ee Pp. Bishary-salted for Japanese market..—. 2:00. 7- V0IY. 274 - Piesrmrrer tigers sons.) >. SPARRO OL melt De thls Cae ATS ae 274 PREG 5.08 CURES A. S39 eer! de a OE oe a ce aD eh 38 Manan Len Japancseymsdrict,.. ../ ic: rye ~ceysig ads ote sect on baws oath. seek 3 ARS Roe ee he a tw nce eRe Ge A he nee ee 690 OKHOTSK-KAMCHATKA DISTRICT. The northern waters of the Priamur, including the above-named district, are still dominated by Japanese fishermen. The Russo- Japanese Fishing Convention of 1907 opened the doors of this dis- trict to them, and in these waters they are far better equipped than the Russian fishermen. = ! | Chum. | Hump- | back. Summer | Autumn run. run. ; 1913. Number. | Number. | Number. Riusstanspeasants: 25 2382202555 Bee Seas Se see oe Jes. Sos ee eee 44, 400 480, 321 IN ATV CGE Ae eo ake ee yl eRe Sih Id Se SR ee rh ee ee ego |e ese 650 330, 334 Commercial fishing 20 08222 LEER SOA IIE Ae ey Sa res fe oe eo es 32, 410 174,401 ora teres: wees. Add Dyin) Wy eh ee cll! hg eres eee 77,460 | 985,056 Towel, Pane oe Din genie pales oye td es i ae aa 450 | 117,700 | 1,033,559 Mota; OME es: 23 ee ean Ee ee DEES cee Re ae Degicers imme eens uy Sa yo valde 78,461 | 1,118,770 In addition to the fish prepared for home consumption, the local inhabitants put some of the products on the market, viz: Salted summer chums 73 tons, autumn chums 1,476 tons, and 68 tons of caviar. In addition to this, 116 tons of summer chums, 877 tons of autumn chums, and 62 tons of caviar were prepared by commercial fishermen. Khabarovsk district.—This district includes the river lne from the northern boundary of the Mariinsk district up the river to Khaba- rovsk, about 127 miles. The district is very similar to the Mariinsk FISHING’ IN THE PRIAMUR DISTRICT OF SIBERIA, ° 29 district. In 1913 there were 39 free fishing stations in the district, allotted to 20 Russian and 19 native villages, and 3 commercial fishing stations. According to official reports 278,514 fish were caught in 1913, i. e., — 268,514 autumn chum salmon at the free stations and 10,000 at the commercial stations. About 154,000 fish were used for home con- sumption, the balance being sold fresh and salted in the neighboring markets. Sturgeon fishing is greatly developed in this district; about 4,623 sturgeon, weighing over 34 tons, were registered in the 1913 catch, but the actual number is very much higher, as many fish were not registered. In addition to sturgeon, about 158 tons of pike, bream, carp, crucian carp, sheatfish, ete., were caught by the peasants. SUMMARY OF CATCH IN 1913. The total number of fish caught in the waters of the Russian Far East, and the quantity of product prepared there, in 1913, is as follows: NuMBER OF FisH CAUGHT. Sal ; almon Dolly Districts: = = as —— Varden Herring. King. Chum. |Humpback.| Sockeye. | Coho. trout PRS AN OVS Wise oye stacaie Se 2's] 2 vinis ec.055 = Pits) CM Ree snarioe | ej obo s 3 Sais | tone lepes | eee sys 6 sees seer INEM Hes atte Ss se oe ete eee Ae 1062; 516 occ cae ae ea She te Sas Seidel See ee eer | Pee ee aes Saeco MHUBOIMOV SK) ses o55.55.)- 552.00)... 18;:262.. 373 itt) 468; 794) 5-2. rao ete tee tea eee 12, 600 oOtEtwestertees 22822. | 222.29... 138, 750 G5 7081) | oe 2 See 1,915 11,824 | 40,919, 600 Pee nlins ss te ah Ste 77, 279 ihr a) i RG ee ee ales Sie 0 4, 482, 500 Oe AAS se ae ene a | ag 1, 235, 050 SARL IGG: | sates 3° 198s $77; O85) | s.22 nse West Kamchatka....... 9, 507 4, 468, 331 | 27,348,537 | 1,521, 276 101, 471 104, 750 100, 000 East Kamchatka....... 31, 482 7, 519, 272 3, 271, 592 | 859, 701 152, 823 18, 671 88, 740 UG) trl Le eee 40, 989 | 33,042,085 | 39, 171, 694 2, 380, 977 259, 407 152, 280 45, 603, 440 Propucts PREPARED FOR MARKET. Salmon. | Herring. Districts. For | For For | For European Japanese | European) Japanese market. | market. | market. market. Tons Tons Tons Tons LSUETLSV@ a2 2) cape te Oe CS ge a oe eS NTE ESS oc] 55 sae |e 5 ee Manimsk 22: 3. ZAGI2 |. 2a een peer Pe pee Nikolaievsk. . . . 42, 944 7, 204 idt| abe) dee ve Southwestern. . 310 | 533 784 1, 881 Sakhalin +. .o 0.2.2 101 | 277 38 274 -Okhotek.........-.-. 741 2,867 |.---.---22)]--2---- a West Kamchatka 5, 331 | 37, 422 LEAS eee East Kamchatka 4,180 | 21,473 yh ee TOT its Gea SBs oes Se peSo asec SoocerEe acess seo aaesoe 56,694 69,776 848 2,155 . | 30 _ FISHING IN THE PRIAMUR DISTRICT OF SIBERTA. MISCELLANEOUS FISHES PREPARED BY DISTRICTS. = = = | . . . West : Khabar- | Nikolai- | South- Species. see E = Kam- Total. Pp ovsk. evsk. western. URES. Tons Tons. SUUreGOM ard ate cient Ssice 9s aine ete Serena ine Sale melee Rice ae al ee Oa |), lo emer | Sey eeeteeraen a | Seamer ae 147 . Dorse 45 Mackerel 166 Smoeltesets lsszepjpqes3 72 9- ee bee tess pee 2 eee eee Bebe ens eek ele) fe POUGIEGRe aes 50 SHUUP cares So bisle jo were 15s eel= bie Ss miele eo) lo ~ aie aces ee Iete| | Sr ctera cre eT eres eS Ste | Nes eee | eee 29 Crab... 5 130 Seankale! 2. secs sashes eae sot ences beet eect caehee | Uae Gere lie= doce eee} a gl 80 7a eee eee 1, 867 Other 3... toposes 23 ered. sob ebt. cee steeped Tee BLOSr ht D4 ln Ap yea eee eae ae 1, 300 5 3, 734 1 JAPANESE INTEREST IN RUSSIAN FISHERIES. EXPORTS FROM RUSSIAN FAR EASTERN WATERS TO JAPAN. The ‘‘ Vyestnik Finansof, Promyshlennosti 1 Torgovl’”’ (Messenger of Finance, Industry and Commerce; No. 50, of Dec. 13 to 26, 1915) gives the following statistics of the exports of fish from the Priamur district to Japan from 1907 to 1913, inclusive, showing the per cent of increase or decrease in each year as compared with the preceding: i Increase | Increase (En) Ory. |\ (+) or decrease || decrease Years. Quantity. Value. (—) com- || Years. Quantity. Value. (—) com- pared with || | pared with preceding | preceding year. |] year. | Tons. | Percent. || Tons. Per cent. 34,058 |. $1,421,398 |... 2.2 eee } 1011). bra Sao 105, 821 | $3,614,077 +32. 38 40,944 | 1,867,690 | POT PIOT2 fee ant iA 65,513 | 3,046,623 —38. 08 61,225 | 2,419,442 | 484 1913 2r ec)... 92,270 | 3,460, 260 +13. 34 71,572 | 2,690,072 +18 | According to the kind of fish or products, the exports of 1913 con- sisted of the following: Product. Quantity. Value. |, Product. \Quantity., Value. Tons. | le LOTS aan Chumisalmon\32225- 22st eee 383481 | $1), 808, 495.1) Cavianees occ ec ceases acne 436 $25, 805 Humpback salmon.........-. AZ O87, |)15 138; 693) |’ Other = 2-22 - eaeneeaee see: 228 10, 964 Rertilizers so: eee oe Be. See 2,383 | 109,721 |) ‘_____} — Canneditishts seni es ..| 2,025 | 257,947 Toba «ey see a ae 92,270 | 3,460, 260 Herring: ae ote ence cetera 730 | 18, 635 | | The localities or districts from whence these goods were shipped were as follows: | | Districts. Quantity.) Value. | | Districts. ‘Quantity.| Value. feriesie Aces | Tons. | | | Tons. Kamchatka oneness | 622900) /$2)880.-734"||/Sakhalinl.. 9-4. suse eee usae | 701 $30, 647 Nikolaievsk....... scooter. 2,738 141, 106 Maritime Province.....-...-.. | 3, 110 139, 168 Tarleyo. Meese. see Beet 2 93; 200)|| 141597 —— —— OSH Ots kes) oe ee ca | 2,652 | 117, 981 | NG) pg ao a | 75,601 | 3,460, 233 FISHING IN THE PRIAMUR DISTRICT OF SIBERIA. 31 These goods were shipped to various Japanese ports. The im- portance of these ports as fish markets may be seen from the following figures which give the amount of fish landed during the period 1911- 1913, in percentages of the grand total of imports: : — Ports. TE Hy fa EY 03 1913 Ports. 1911 1912 | 1913 J a Ee Pals 6 Se —- Per cent.| Per cent. | Per cent. | Per cent.| Per cent. | Per cent. Meakodate..:c---'.-. 64.9 | G8. 4 TAACTa| | MSF UPA eee 3.6 1 1.19 Yokohama......... 10.6 | 10.1 9: 38.i|) AOMmanl: --covus se tg 1.4 59 IN): 7.9 8.3 7 SEN (Others. ce alee cost 12 1.4 1.04 LALUeee Cee... 5.9 5.2 3. 29 | | MUSIK te Sees aces «| 4.8 4.1 2.92 100 100 100 JAPANESE FISHING STATIONS. The Japanese Advertiser of March 22, 1916, had the following in reference to Japanese fishing stations in the Russian far eastern waters: Owing to the increased demand for tinned fish as provisions of war, the attention of industrial circles has been directed to fishing enterprises. The fishing along the coast provinces of Asiatic Russia has been made the object of much interest and com- petition among the Japanese and Russians. Though various knotty problems that impaired the interest of the Japanese have recently been settled in their favor by the lenient attitude of the Russian authorities, the Japanese have now been hard hit by the increase of the lease rate for the fishing zone. According to the statement of Mr. Matsuzaki, Director of the Marine Industry Bureau, the tender for the present year for the lease of fishing zones in the coast provinces has resulted in the loss of 26 zones for the Japanese side from that of last year. The quotations have risen remarkably, evidently because of the ever-increasing demand for preserved fish. For instance, a zone for which the Imperial Marine Goods Co., obtained the lease last year at 6,660 yen, has gone to a Russian concern at 21,000 yen. Another zone which a Japanese firm obtained at only 3,100 yen last year, has also gone to a Russian firm at 22,000 yen. The inability of the Japanese to bid higher may partly be ascribed to the shortage of ships and the rise in the charter rate, but the real reason is the Russian competition, caused by the prosperity in the trade in fish. The fishing enterprise in the coast provinces has formerly been practically monopo- lized by Japanese. But the recent development in fishing has attracted the attention of Russian business men, and they have obtained the financial help of foreign capi- talists interested and scored a success in the campaign. The fishing enterprise requires large and perfect tinning plants, but the Russians lack these plants, and it is easy to imagine that the foreign capitalists, having the plants at their disposal, have invested capital in backing the Russian fishermen. Mr. Matsuzaki has warned the Japanese fishing firms to beware of this new development. The following is a table showing the number of fishing zones leased to Japanese and Russians for this and last year and the amounts of the leases: | Number of fishing zones. Amount of lease. Years. | = : ; Japanese. Russian. | Total. | Japanese.) Russian.| Total. | ee | as | Yen. | Yen. Yen. LTLS.. J56e5t OS Opa ae eS eEE oe eRe eee 231 34 | 265 | 702,244 143, 118 845, 362 170,278 | 893, 8C3 MIE EIN eG, oso wn = cin & wide ells’ w n'a imselarme 205 42 247 | 723,585 a A yen is equal to about $0.498. O LIBRARY OF CONGRESS A 860 769 6