one day during the hunt, i approached the bank of the river andnoticed many very large fish with red backs, as though filled withblood. they were swimming on the surface enjoying the rays of thesun. when the river was entirely free from ice, these fishappeared in enormous quantities. soon i realized that they wereworking up-stream for the spawning season in the smaller rivers. ithought to use a plundering method of catching, forbidden by thelaw of all countries; but all the lawyers and legislators should belenient to one who lives in a den under the roots of a fallen treeand dares to break their rational laws.

gathering many thin birch and aspen trees i built in the bed of thestream a weir which the fish could not pass and soon i found themtrying to jump over it. near the bank i left a hole in my barrierabout eighteen inches below the surface and fastened on the up-stream side a high basket plaited from soft willow twigs, intowhich the fish came as they passed the hole. then i stood cruellyby and hit them on the head with a strong stick. all my catch wereover thirty pounds, some more than eighty. this variety of fish iscalled the taimen, is of the trout family and is the best in theyenisei.

after two weeks the fish had passed and my basket gave me no moretreasure, so i began anew the hunt.