V. I.

Lenin

799

To:   A. I. SVIDERSKY

Comrade Svidersky, People’s Commissariat for Workers’ and Peasants’ Inspection

1. I have information that the Administration for the
Island Economy of the Arctic Ocean is selling alcohol to
the Novaya Zemlya settlers and is making drunkards out of the natives.

It is alleged that the Administration sets such plunderous prices that the settlers try to sell the products of
their industry to visiting Norwegian trappers, who offer
less plunderous prices for their goods.

2. I have been informed that as a result of the sharp
decline in the fishing industry during the war the searoach, which had almost lost its commercial importance
through rapacious fishing, has once again appeared in commercial quantities in the Sea of Azov. Much young fish
of the sturgeon species, including the almost extinct white
sturgeon, has also appeared. But on the one hand, there
has been started at once unchecked and unrestricted plunderous catching of young sturgeon, which could quickly
cancel out the favourable effect of the war. On the other
hand, something inconceivable has allegedly been happening, and perhaps is still happening, in the lower reaches
of the Don. As an example I have been told that even the
water guards of the Don Food Committee have engaged in plunderous fishing in the restricted zone, with a sort
of charge allegedly being levied for permission to catch
fish in the restricted area—between 400 and 500 million
rubles for one net casting.

The chief of the water guard service of the Don Food
Committee has been removed from his post for plunderous fishing in the lower reaches of the Don. This gentleman has
merely been removed from his post. It is necessary to find
out where he is and to make a more serious check up on whether he has been sufficiently punished.

Please appoint an inquiry into both cases and inform me through Comrade Gorbunov of the results in a short note.

These people should not just be given a scare, but should also be brought to book and taken to task for these
scandalous practices.

V. Ulyanov (Lenin )
Chairman, Council of People’s Commissars