At present hogs on the lower Amoor subsist largely on fish, and the pork has a very unpleasant flavor.
The steward of the Variag told me that in 1865, when at De Castries, he had two small pigs from Japan.

A vessel just from the Amoor had a large hog which had been purchased at Nicolayevsk.
The captain of the ship offered his hog for the two pigs, on the plea that he wished to keep them during his voyage.

As the hog was three times the weight of the pigs the steward gladly accepted the proposal, and wondered how a man who made so absurd a trade could be captain of a ship.

On killing his prize he found the pork so fishy in flavor that nobody could eat it.

The whole hog went literally to the dogs.
Nicolayevsk is a free port of entry, and there are no duties upon merchandise anywhere in Siberia east of Lake Baikal.