Pomor trade

The Pomor trade (Pomorhandel, russehandel; Поморская торговля) was carried out between the Pomors of Northwest Russia and the people along the coast of Northern Norway, as far south as Bodø. The trade went on from 1740 until the Russian Revolution in 1917. The pomor trade began as a barter trade between people in the area, trading grain products from Russia with fish from North Norway as the main trade. With time it developed into a regular trade against money: in fact the ruble was used as currency in several places in North Norway. The pomor trade was of major importance both to Russians and Norwegians. The trade was carried out by Russian pomors from the White Sea area and the Kola peninsula who came sailing to settlements and places of trade along the coast of North Norway. The pomors were skilled traders and sailors, and they did also explore the areas around the White Sea. In addition to their trade westwards, they established a trade route east across the Ural mountains to North Siberia. Trade between Russians and people in North Norway has a long history, dating at least back to the Viking Age. The Russians traded, through the principality in Novgorod, with the Sami people in North Norway from the Middle Ages until the beginning of the 17th century. In early summer, the catch from the winter- and spring fisheries in North Norway were bought and shipped south to Trondheim and Bergen by traders, mainly stockfish, and unsalted dried cod. The six weeks from 10 July to 20 August was referred to as "maggot time", because the fish was difficult to conserve in summer, and there was no market southwards for the fish. The Russians recognized this opportunity. They sailed west in the "maggot time" and bought fish, either readily prepared stockfish or salt fish, or they salted the fish themselves in the cargo hold of their vessels. Fish was in demand in Russia due to the Russian Church's frequent fasting days, when only fish and vegetarian food was allowed. The fish was shipped to Arkangelsk, which also was port of shipment for grain products being carried to North Norway.