As for the fisheries, which constitute such an important branch of Astrakhan trade, they are located at various distances from the city, approximately from 7 to 100 miles and even more; in the city itself there are only the fishing offices of various famous fishing manufacturers, such as Sapozhnikov, Bazileveky and others. Of course, in connection with fishing it is worth noting parts and salt deposit. In general, fishy
The fishery annually employs up to 40 thousand people, scattered across different parts of the Volga, and up to 25 thousand people working in sea fishing. The value of the entire fish catch both in the lower reaches of the Volga and in the Vashi Sea is measured in tens of millions of rubles, judging by the fact that one profitable catch brings in gross revenue of about twenty million in a year.
Gardening, vegetable gardening and melon growing are also of great importance in the Astrakhan Kraft Import. In Astrakhan itself there are up to 50 vineyards with about 100,000 bushes and fruit trees. Of course, these gardens are not located within the city limits, but beyond them. Of the areas located near Astrakhan, which are also rich in gardens, we will note: the village of Anyu-
Tino with 125 gardens, the village of Nachalovo with 112 gardens and the village of Trekh-Protakskoye with 40 gardens; In addition to fruit trees, all of them also have vineyards.
Grapes appeared in the Astrakhan province for the first time in the Khmerinsk Region, when an attempt to breed it was made by one of the large rural owners of that time, who visited southern Europe and exported grapevines from there. The experiments in planting grapes turned out to be successful, but the owner of the delivered vines soon died, and his heirs did not make further efforts to plant the vineyards. However, the rumor that grapes would grow and even ripen near Astrakhan reached Tsar Alexy Mikhailovich and he ordered experiments to be carried out in planting grapevines on the state lands of the Astrakhan region. The grapes were grown from Perom and 9 decades were planted with them.
— 160 mud. And this experience turned out to be successful, and therefore the king issued a decree that new Persian grapes should be planted annually on state lands. The grape industry in the Astrakhan province achieved special success in the middle of the last century, when it was led by Colonel Porobich, who was in charge of the state gardens. Since 1787, Astrakhan viticulture has been in private hands; as for the present, the Astrakhan vineyards have almost begun to decline compared to their past; at least now there are no longer the high varieties of grapes that the Astrakhan region was famous for 100 years ago.
The processing of grapes into wine began in the Astrakhan province precisely under Porobich, that is, in half the last century. At present, few people are involved in winemaking, and only a few gardeners are involved. Zvorykin and Mikhailov produce red and white wine, and even then in rather limited quantities, so that in essence the Astrakhan province consumes almost three times more imported wine than their own. Only in recent years have some aspirations among Astrakhan rural owners to plant orchards and vineyards begun to fade; fairly extensive plantations are planted with grapes, peaches, apricots, pears, plums, quince, apple trees and cherries; For this purpose, fruit trees are grown from Persia, the Caucasus and Vrym. One cannot help but wish that these newly emerging aspirations would develop in ever wider and wider dimensions; The Astrakhan climate, as proven by the experience of the past, is to such an extent conducive not only to fruit gardening, but also to viticulture, that there is no doubt that it will have proper properties if appropriate care and attention are applied to it. Over the past two or three years, private entrepreneurs have made attempts in Astrakhan to renew and raise abandoned no there. sericulture; These experiments have so far proven successful.
Trade in Astrakhan is very diverse on. The city serves as a warehouse for goods exported from Perai and back from Russia, a point of unloading and reloading of everything transported by water from the south to the north and from the north to the south. It would be difficult to list the names of all those products and goods with which Astrakhan trade deals! There are grain products, and fruits, and fish products, and cotton, and non-woven products, and what not you can include in the list of goods that constitute the subject of foreign trade in the Astrakhan region. Already in the eighties, the turnover of Astrakhan imports and exports reached a huge 150 million. poods and 170 mil. rubles ' Since then they have been growing, and by now the turnover of all imports and exports, expressed in rubles, of course, exceeds 200 milluns.