The Fishing Industry of the Population of Sarepta and Chernoyarskii District, Astrakhan Province

Abstract

In the latter half of the 18th and 19th centuries, Chernoyarsk and Sarepta waters of the Volga River, stretching from the German colony of Sarepta to the Kamennyi Yar settlement, were considered some of the best in terms of fish resources, profitability, and quality of “red” fish and fish products (such as caviar). Drawing on archival and literary sources, the article discusses the history of fishing industry, its functions and significance in traditional economic activities of the population of Sarepta and villages of the Chernoyarskii District, Astrakhan Province. For the Sarepta residents in particular, fishing was of subsidiary significance during the period under consideration. The article further describes the specificities of state regulation in regard to fishing in Volga, its organization and fish processing, as well as types of fishermen and tools of the trade.