Map showing location of Narva town and surrounding areas.

<p>Names of the countries and/or provinces during the end of the 17th century are given in italics.</p

Export amounts of five most important species from Narva during the years 1662–1699.

<p>Expressed as median ±50% quartiles.</p

Monthly trade dynamics of the Baltic herring in Narva fish market.

<p>Expressed as a percentage of the total traded species raw biomass, for the years 1689, 1690, 1694 and 1695.</p

Historical measurement units used in Narva market in the late 17th century.

<p>Historical measurement units used in Narva market in the late 17th century.</p

Quantification of the Early Small-Scale Fishery in the North-Eastern Baltic Sea in the Late 17th Century

<div><p>Historical perspectives on fisheries and related human behaviour provide valuable information on fishery resources and their exploitation, helping to more appropriately set management targets and determine relevant reference levels. In this study we analyse historical fisheries and fish trade at the north-eastern Baltic Sea coast in the late 17th century. Local consumption and export together amounted to the annual removal of about 200 tonnes of fish from the nearby sea and freshwater bodies. The fishery was very diverse and exploited altogether one cyclostome and 17 fish species with over 90% of the catch being consumed locally. The exported fish consisted almost entirely of high-valued species with Stockholm (Sweden) being the most important export destination. Due to rich political history and natural features of the region, we suggest that the documented evidence of this small-scale fishery should be considered as the first quantitative summary of exploitation of aquatic living resources in the region and can provide a background for future analyses.</p></div

Amounts of locally consumed species (kg) traded by different ethnic groups in Narva (1694–1695).

<p>Amounts of locally consumed species (kg) traded by different ethnic groups in Narva (1694–1695).</p

Monthly trade dynamics of different fish species in Narva fish market.

<p>Expressed as a percentage of the total traded species raw biomass, for the years 1694 (empty column) and 1695 (black column).</p

The relative share of different species in fish catches during different time-periods.

<p>Narva town fish market, 1694–1695 (5a), the eastern Gulf of Finland and Lake Peipsi fisheries, 1930; 1935–1939 (5b), the eastern Gulf of Finland and Lake Peipsi fisheries, 1995–2011 (5c). Numbers on the category axis represent following species or species groups: 1- Atlantic cod; 2- Baltic herring; 3- European sprat; 4- Burbot; 5- European eel; 6- European perch; 7- European smelt; 9- Flatfishes (European flounder and turbot (<i>Scopthalmus maximus</i>); 10- Freshwater bream; 11- Ide; 12- Northern pike; 13- Pike-perch; 14- River lamprey; 15- Roach; 16- Ruffe; 17- Salmonids (Atlantic salmon and sea trout); 18- Vendace; 19- Vimba bream/European whitefish; 20- Other species.</p