Many people know that the beluga is the largest freshwater fish in existence. It is mentioned in many historical documents. In Russia, this fish, brought to the capital city from the distant Caspian Sea, was served at the table of princes and kings. There are many descriptions of fantastic specimens that reach simply incredible sizes. Not surprisingly, many people wonder which of these testimonies are true and which are pure fiction.
The largest beluga, the existence of which is confirmed by sufficient evidence, is striking in size. There are many contenders for this title, but, unfortunately, all the facts of the existence of giant beluga were recorded long ago. Nowadays, large specimens are almost never found.
King Fish
Beluga is a long-lived fish. She can live a hundred years. During this time, the largest beluga can grow to a gigantic size of several meters. This species is considered one of the largest marine fish on the planet.
This fish spawns several times in its life. Experts say that beluga eggs are also gigantic - weighing up to half a ton.
For spawning, females go to the rivers flowing into the sea, rising upstream sometimes for several kilometers. It is noteworthy that if there is no place suitable for babies, then the fish will not spawn, and the eggs inside will gradually dissolve.
Where does the beluga live?
The largest beluga is found in the Caspian, Black, Adriatic, Mediterranean and Azov seas.
During spawning, this fish can be found in the Volga, Terek, Don, Kama, Dnieper and many other rivers that flow into the sea. Large females that did not have time to spawn, sometimes even remain in the rivers for the winter, falling into hibernation.
How to catch the biggest beluga?
Today commercial fishing of this fish is prohibited. An equally strict veto was imposed on the collection of beluga caviar. But the law does not prohibit sport fishing. For it, special gear is used that minimally injures the fish.
Fishing is one way to establish and document the facts. The largest beluga in the world, caught by an enthusiast in a competition, will definitely be measured, weighed, photographed, and then released back home. If this did not happen regularly, we would know much less about the life of these amazing fish.
To catch a thunderstorm of seas and rivers, you need to swim from the sea into the river for 3 kilometers. Beluga is a voracious predator, fishermen in her stomachmore than once even ducks and seals were found. When choosing a bait, you should give preference to raw meat and fish. Professionals know: the beluga, although not aggressive, like, for example, a catfish, is quite capable of seriously misbehaving. In an attempt to get away from the fisherman, she may even capsize the boat.
The largest representatives: confirmed facts
The biggest beluga caught in Russia in 1922 still holds the palm. She weighed 1224 kg and was caught in the Caspian Sea. The giant fish was filled with caviar. The photo of the largest beluga is simply amazing. The king fish is comparable in size to oceanic monsters: sharks, killer whales, narwhals.
Several other giant beluga catches have been confirmed. In Kazan, there is even a stuffed giant fish, which weighed a whole ton during its lifetime. The carcass, 4.17 m long, was donated to the city by Nicholas II himself, and today a stuffed animal made from it is exhibited in the museum. Anyone can admire the huge fish.
An exhibit a little more modest than Kazan's is in one of the museums of Astrakhan - the beluga caught in the Volga reached 966 kg. Another curious specimen during its lifetime had a length of almost 6 meters and a weight of up to a ton. His story is amazing. This beluga was caught by poachers, gutted the most valuable caviar, and the carcass was thrown away. But of course, they simply could not help but know what kind of treasure fell into their hands! Fearing arrest for illegal activities, the poachers simply called the museum and told them where they had dumped the carcass. She was damaged by carelesscutting, but the taxidermists managed to make a stuffed animal out of it.
Language barrier
Sometimes confusion arises for very unusual reasons. For example, for a very long time the word "beluga" in Russian was also applied to the whale, today known as the beluga whale. Whales, of course, are larger than sturgeon fish, but this did not prevent the emergence of fantastic rumors. Eyewitness accounts of the capture of two-ton beluga most likely refer specifically to marine animals. By the way, white whales can sing. It was their singing that formed the basis of the phraseological unit “Roar like a beluga”. Sturgeons, of course, cannot roar.
And in English, many sturgeon fish, including beluga, are often denoted by one word - sturgeon. This also often confuses the question of the largest beluga. Some of the declared contenders for the championship belong to other species of the Sturgeon family.
Human factor
The largest beluga caught in our time reaches only 2-3 centners. Uncontrolled fishing and caviar collection, environmental degradation, irrational use of resources - all this had a negative impact on the population. The number of beluga has decreased, the fish has become smaller, and spawning has become less frequent. The habitat has also shrunk. For spawning, the beluga goes very close to the rivers, trying to stay closer to the sea.
Prospects
The biggest beluga is a rarity today. Fortunately, humanity is trying to correct the mistakes of the past. Beluga is listed in the Red Book, the state is fighting against poaching. Today, the beluga is artificially bred in many countries. In Russia, several hybrids have been bred that have shown excellent viability and industrial value. This allows you to save the number of beluga in the wild. Positive dynamics gives hope that the beautiful fish-king will not sink into oblivion in the coming years, but someday will again amaze people with its huge size.
