The inhabitants, for the most part, dry their salmon, and salt very little of it. Each fish is cut into three pieces, the belly-piece being first taken off, and afterward a slice along each side the back-bone. The former of these are dried and smoked, and esteemed the finest part of the fish, and sold, when we were at Saint Peter and Saint Paul’s, at the rate of one hundred for a rouble. The latter are dried in the air, and either eaten whole as bread, or reduced to powder, of which they make paste and cakes, that are not unpleasant to the taste. The head, tail, and bones are hung up, and dried for winter provision for the dogs.
List of Animals found in Kamtschadale, communicated by Mr Pennant.[75]
Argali, wild sheep, Arct. _Capra ammon_,
Lin. Syst. 97
Zool. vol. i. p. 12.
Ibex, _or_ wild goat 16 _Capra ibex_.
90 Rein 22
Cervus tarandus. 93 Wolf
38 _Canis lupus_. 53
Dog 40 Arctic fox
42 _Canis lagopus_. 59
European fox 45 Canis vulpes.
59 * a. black 46
b. cross ib.
Polar bear, in the Frozen Sea _Ursus Arctos_.
69
only 55
Bear 57 Ursus arctos.
Wolverene 66 _Ursus luscus_.
71 Common weasel 75
Mustela nivalis. 69 Stoat, _or_ ermine
ib. _Mustela erminea_. 68 Sable
79 Mustela zibellina.
68 Common otter 86 Mustela
lutra. 66 Sea otter
88 _Mustela lutris_. 66 Varying
hare 94 Lepus timidus.
Alpine hare 97
Earless marmot 113 _Mus citellus_.
113
Bobak marmot 115
Water rat 130 _Mus amphibius_.
82
Common mouse 131 _Mus Musculus_.
83
OEconomic mouse 134
Red mouse 136
Ichelag mouse 138
Foetid shrew 139 _Sorex araneus_.
74
Walrus. Icy sea 144 Trichecus
rosmarus. 49 Common seal
151 _Phoca vitulina_ 56
Great seal 159
Leporine seal 161
Harp seal 163
Rubbon seal. Kurile Isles 165
Ursine seal ib. _Phoca ursina_
58
Leonine seal 172
Whale-tailed manati 177
There were no domestic animals in Kamtschatka till they were introduced by the Russians. The dogs, which seem to be of wolfish descent, are aboriginal.