THE KOLA PENINSULA.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLIII, Issue 57, 23 January 1917, Page 8

THE KOLA PENINSULA.

A LAND OF SPOET.

WATERS ABOUND WITH FISH,

According to information recently received from Norwegian source* it would appear that the line of railway which is to place Petrograd in direct communication. —via Kun, on the<southwestern shore of the White Sea, and Kamlalaks —with an ice-free harbour on the Murman coast of the Kola Peninsula will, in all probability, be completed before the end of the year. Interest, therefore, attaches to that remotely situated' portion of the Russian Empire.

The great. Kola Peninsula, which may be dese'ribed as bounded on the east by the White Sea, on the north by the Arctic Ocean, and the west by Norway and Finland, and on the south by the White Sea and Karelia, covers an area of approximately -10,000 geographical square miles, of which at least one-half consists of treeless and; barren tundra, about three-eighths of forest (pine and bfrdi), and the remainder of lakes and swamps. Its water systems may conveniently be divided into two groups: those which flow northwards into the Arctic, and' those which discharge into the White Sea.

In addition to salmon, the inland waters of Russian Lapland abound with trout, grayling and pike, so that when peace returns once more it is probable that British anglers will take advantage of the new railways in order to exploit this wide field of enterprise. Here, •however, it, may be interpolated that, whereas salmon, may be taken with the rod in Fin'marken in the middle of June, they do not make their a|>pearanre in the Kola Fiord until a month later, and in the Gulf of Kam!ala>ks until 'August. The Murniiiu coast, three hundred miles from the Norwegian frontier on the .Fakobsely to Svjacunas (the Holy

Cape), at the entrance- to the White .Sea, has Jong been celebrated for the quantities of fish which frequen't it. Of these the most important species is the cod; but halibut, coal-fish, haddocks and flounders: are also captured in large numbers.

With regard, to the herring, a wellknown Russian writer states that "they accur along the coast from the Kola -Fiord, to Archaugel, a distance of 1000 versts. They are also taken in the Gulf of Kandalaks and along the coast of Petschora, a distance of 1500 versts, and they are captured still farther to the eastward at the mouths of the Obi and Yenisei." When the herring come id from the Arctic to the White Sea—generally in June —they are often so closely packed together that they form huge solid masses. Followed, by other fish, they enter the fiords, bays and mouths of the rivers in such numbers

that they cover the shores for lon'g distances. The White Sea herring," adds this writer, "are fat, white and of good

flavour, and when salted are not at all inferior to the Dutch." For the terminus of the Murman railway, as, it is already calted, the Russians have selected a spot near the outer end of the Kola Fiord, where the ice presents no difficulties to winter navigation; and at the head of that long Arctic inlet stands the little grey town

of Kola. Hither in 1556 came Burroughs in search of intelligence con-

cerning the unfortunate Sir Hugh Willoughby, who, it was afterwards ascertained, perished of cold; and hunger, with th© crews of his two vessels, on

the Arzin'a River, near the entrance to the White Sea.

Two important rivers enter the fiord dose by the town of Kola. The largest of these, the Tulern (Flood River), is navigable by boat all the way up to .Miotjavre, next to Jmamlra, the most extensive sheet of water in. Russian Lapland; ami, salmon not only enter that, lake, but ascend itsi main confluent as far as the frontier of Finland. The lower reaches, of the Tulern are slowflowing ami lake-like in. character, but at a place called ,Oaljebok-kau jarga, .11 miles from the mouth, the river contracts to a width of a>bout 150 yards, and there is a fine rapid, where salmon rise well to the fly. The route for travellers from Kola to Kandalaks, a distance of 140 miles, runs along the water system of the Kola Eiver as far as the Lake Guolle Javre? and should, the weather be favourable the journey is an enjoyable one. More thaiv a half of it is made in boats on lakes and rivers, the remainder by comparatively short tramps through forest.

Immediately to the south of Guolle Javre lies the narrow swampy neck of laud which forms the watershed between the Arctic and the White Sea river system; audi soon after passing it the traveller reaches beautiful l'maudra (470 feet, above, sea level ),_a tine sheet, of water nearly Oil miles in length. On some of the numerous and largo wooded islands with which it abounds the Lapps keep reindeer all the year round, ami it may be imagined that, when breathing the mosquito-laden atmosphere of the summer months these animals frequently cast longing eyes upon the distant peaks and cool, snowflad slopes of Umbolek Duufler, which for a distance of over 70 miles stretches away towards the. north.- At different points ou the shores of Imaiidra log huts for the accommodation of travellers have beeir erected by tho Government. There is plenty of sport with large trout, char and grayling to be had Ou this lake, while salmon and grilse also are sometimes' captured at tlie lower end. The remainder of the journey to Kandalaks can easily be performed in a day, but owing to the turbulent character of the effluent stream, tho Xiva, most of the distance—about 21 miles.—must be traversed on foo:.— €. Lind'esay, in Chambers' Journal.