- Wild animals
- >>
- Fish
Vendace is a salmon fish common in the northern parts of Europe. This is an animal with features characteristic of pelagic fish: a convex lower jaw and a slender body with black, silver and white dorsal, lateral and ventral sides, respectively. Another typical pelagic characteristic of vendace is vertical migration behavior.
Appearance and characteristics
The shape of the fish is similar to herring, and if you look at vendace briefly, it’s easy to confuse them. Vendace is characterized by a body that is strongly compressed laterally. But its distinctive feature is that the lower jaw is slightly longer than the upper, and has a characteristic notch into which the thickened end of the jaw seems to be inserted.
The body of the cartilage is covered with large scales, the lateral line is located closer to the back, which has a gray-blue color. The sides of the fish are silvery and the belly is white. The dorsal and caudal fins are gray in color, while the rest are white.
The size of the ripus is small - the body length varies between 15-20 centimeters, sometimes there are individuals 35 centimeters long. As a rule, the weight of vendace is 100-180 grams. Some varieties of fish reach a weight of 300 grams.
Where do fish live?
Most of all, the ripus likes deep areas where there is a clay or sandy bottom. The fish tries to avoid shallow waters and bodies of water with warm water. The vendace lives in Finland, Scotland, Scandinavia, Denmark, Germany, and Belarus. It feeds on small crustaceans (daphnia, cyclops, etc.).
Rhipus prefers to live in cold northern waters. In Russia, fishermen fish in lakes such as Onega, Ladoga, Chudskoye, Beloe, and Pskovskoye. Sometimes lives in rivers, as well as the Finnish and Botanical Gulfs of the Baltic Sea.
The worst enemy of fish in natural conditions is the bobbin, which feeds on the young and eggs of this fish. Despite the fact that kilets are small in size, the fish is considered a valuable inhabitant for fishing.
Benefits and properties of vendace
As mentioned above, vendace contains omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which tend to break down quickly, making fish a perishable product. The shelf life of fresh vendace should not exceed one day, and it is better to store it in ice.
In the 15th-18th centuries, vendace was a privilege of the royal table; dishes made from it were even an integral part of the coronation ritual for the kingdom or the Moscow principality. Indeed, the nutritional properties of vendace provided adequate nutrition to the muscles and heart, as well as brain cells. The combination of elements such as histidine and magnesium in fish meat stimulates the functioning of the nervous and immune systems.
And so that fish can be transported over long distances, it is deep frozen, which allows it to preserve its beneficial qualities for a long time. The small size of the fish is more than compensated by the small number of bones - no more than 9%. All the beneficial and nutritional properties of fish are preserved even when salted or smoked.
Types of vendace
There are several varieties of vendace, the distinctive features of which are their appearance, size and height.
Siberian
Vendace, to which fishermen gave such names as “Ob herring”, “saurey”. It is found in the northern regions, stretching from the White Sea to Alaska itself. This is a semi-anadromous fish, which is considered a valuable fishery product. With a length of up to 35 centimeters, the average weight of a fish can reach up to 1 kilogram. Siberian vendace is consumed fresh, salted and smoked.
European
A large species found in closed reservoirs in Finland and Northern Russia. It is extremely rare that this subspecies lives in the Gulf of Finland and the Botanical Gulf. Most of the individuals inhabit Lake Ladoga, Pskov, Onega, and Lake Peipsi.
European vendace is similar in appearance to herring: it has a narrow, elongated body and a convex lower jaw. Large scales are loosely planted on the surface. The back of the fish is gray-blue in color, the belly is white, and the sides are silvery. The fish can reach up to 30 centimeters in length and weigh about 300 grams.
Pereslavskaya
This is a subspecies of European vendace that lives exclusively in one body of water - Lake Pleshchevo, which is a freshwater enclosed reservoir located in the south of the Yaroslavl region. The fish is considered an endangered species and is listed in the Red Book. Its fishing is prohibited.
Prefers to live in cool and oxygenated water. The length of the fish can reach up to 35 centimeters in length. The average weight of vendace is about 300 grams.
Belomorskaya
The most common and widespread fish. Inhabits rivers of the White Sea basin and lakes of the region. A fisherman can meet it in the rivers that flow into the Barents Sea. Local fishermen call the fish “herring” or “zeld”. The smallest subspecies of vendace.
The White Sea ripus has a narrow body, convex in the abdominal part, and a straight back. The small head has small eyes and an upward-pointing mouth. The upper part of the jaw is shorter than the lower. There are large scales on the body, loosely planted. The back of the fish is gray-blue, the sides are silver, and the belly is almost white. The dorsal and caudal fins are dark in color, the rest are light black.
An adult reaches a length of up to 25 centimeters. Most often in catches there are specimens 14-17 centimeters long. The average weight of fish is 50 grams. Individual individuals can reach a mass of up to 150 grams, but they are rarely found. White Sea vendaces that inhabit lakes have even less mass.
Diet
The main food throughout the year is small crustaceans. Daphnia, Cyclops, Cypris and others are found in the stomach. During the daytime, crustaceans are located at the bottom, and therefore vendace stays at depth. At night, the prey moves to the coastal zone on the sandy shores, and schools of rhipus follow it.
In addition to crustaceans, the preferred food for vendace are worms, mollusks and insect larvae. In summer, it feeds on insects that have fallen into the water. This especially happens during the period when they fly out en masse. Then the stomachs of the fish are densely filled with various mayflies and other insects.
Lifestyle and spawning
The way of life of vendace is not much different from other fish of the whitefish family. The vendace can be described as a peaceful fish that prefers a school life. The fish feeds on animal food and tends to move around the water area in search of food. Fish growth is slow. It reaches sexual maturity only at 6 years of age. The exception in this case is the Pereslavl variety; its reproduction process occurs already by 2-3 years.
Vendace spawning begins in late autumn. It does not last long and goes away within two weeks. Depending on the year, the end of spawning may occur in early winter. To reproduce, the fish gather in large schools and settle in shallow areas in places where the bottom is sandy or muddy, preferring underwater hills, slopes and dumps.
Vendace spawns at night. In one approach, the female, depending on her body weight, is capable of laying from 7 to 15 thousand eggs, measuring about one and a half millimeters in diameter. Hatching occurs in the spring. A significant part of the eggs is eaten by ruffes, perches and other inhabitants of local reservoirs.
The rest of the time the vendace “walks”, moving around the reservoir in search of food. Fish are found in large numbers in delta areas and lower reaches of rivers. At the beginning of autumn, seasonal migrations to the upper reaches of rivers and lakes occur - this is done in order to spawn before winter.
Where is this vendace found? vendace
08 Apr
Description
Vendace (or ripus, or kilets) belongs to a species of freshwater fish of the whitefish family.
Due to its nutritional properties, in the 15th - 17th centuries it was considered royal food and was included in the daily menu of crowned heads (it was called royal herring). There are 4 subspecies:
- European,
- Siberian,
- Belomorskaya,
- Pereslavskaya
The body of this fish is strongly compressed on both sides, so it is often confused with herring. In individuals living in seas and lakes, numerous modifications are observed in external characteristics: size, body color, number of scales.
For example, if we take two different lakes, each of them will be dominated by its own individual, it will be almost impossible to find the same vendace.
This is not a very large fish: the lake form (ripus) reaches up to 45 cm and weighs up to 1 kg - this is the Siberian vendace. On average, the length is 10 - 12 cm, and the maximum weight is 75-100 g. The life cycle lasts about 7 years.
Habitats
The habitat of this fish is relatively wide, in almost all the larger lakes of northern Europe, in the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland. In our country it is numerous in the lakes of the Kola Peninsula and Karelia, the Baltic Sea, up to the Arctic Circle. To the south - everywhere - to lakes Beloe, Seliger, Pleshcheyevo, Veslug. Occasionally found in the Saratov Reservoir.
Along with all whitefish, vendace is a bottom-dwelling fish that prefers reservoirs with cold, oxygenated water and a sandy or muddy bottom.
Behavior
This fish most often lives in holes at a depth of 15-40 meters, where the current is not very fast, sometimes gathering in schools, and wanders in search of food along bays, mainly near the surface of the water. The flocks are accompanied by many seagulls and predatory fish, which serves as a signal to fishermen that fish are leaving the bottom.
Spawning
The reproductive period begins at the age of 2 - 3 years. Egg-laying takes place at night, occurs at the end of autumn already under the ice - beginning of winter and lasts approximately 7 to 10 days. Each individual is capable of laying from 2 to 5 thousand eggs, most of which are readily eaten by stickleback and other whitefish.
Fishing is strictly prohibited during spawning!
Nutrition
The main diet of vendace includes small crustaceans: daphnia, cyclops, cypris, as well as insect larvae, worms and mollusks. The largest individuals of this fish, the ripus, eat small fish.
Diseases and parasites
Considering the fact that this fish eats invertebrates, which in turn are carriers of parasites, cases of vendace infection do occur. For safety, you must follow the rules for processing fish eaten for food.
Industrial and recreational fishing
Industrial fishing for vendace has been carried out for a long time and on a very impressive scale. Here in Russia, everywhere in the basins of the Barents, White and Baltic seas. Amateur fishing meets its needs, but you need to remember that the fish is listed in the Red Book and can be caught in certain areas and during the allotted time for fishing!
Fishing methods
Of all the methods for catching vendace, this type is a net (mesh from 10 to 25, depending on the size of the fish in a given body of water).
With a winter fishing rod they catch vendace exclusively with small jigs (garland tackle). It is caught with nets during spawning, either in late autumn (October, November) or at the beginning of winter (the nets are placed under the ice).
How to fish?
Vendace is a valuable fish, and fishermen know that hunting it is a fascinating process. Fishing is carried out using float and bottom gear; winter and summer jig gear and vertical lures are also used to catch vendace.
For float gear
Fish are caught only at great distances from the shore and at great depths. Vendace tends to live in the lower layers of water. For fishing, it is permissible to use both a float and a “walking bottom”. It is better to choose rods with a “running rig”. The fish can hardly be called shy, but it is not recommended to choose rough fishing gear.
For winter gear
It is very exciting to catch ripus in winter from the ice. The process is possible using nodding fishing rods. Use jigs or hooks with bait: shellfish meat, bloodworms, worms and others.
In summer time
In summer, as in winter, they use nodding tackle equipped with fly rods with special nods. Vendace is caught using ordinary winter jigs: shot, drop, ant. It is best to give preference to dark-colored nozzles. The nods and weight of the jigs are selected based on the fishing conditions.
Lures
To catch vendace, the bait used is mollusk meat, invertebrate larvae, including worms, fish fillets, and bloodworms. When fishing with spoons, it is also recommended to use pieces of meat.
Fishing for vendace
Siberian vendace
In summer, vendace is caught from a boat and from the shore. From the shore - with a bottom tackle, fly rod or Bolognese rod, and from a boat - with an onboard fishing rod equipped with a nod. Float tackle is not the best way to purposefully catch these fish, which are caught by chance.
The most interesting is winter fishing. From the ice, vendace is caught using a garland, a jig and a hook. The nod is given firmly. Fishing takes place at a depth of more than 20 m, so in windy weather there is nothing to do on the ice without a tent. Where vendace is found, locals set up houses on the pond and fish comfortably.
Breeding and growing vendace
Raising fish in a pond is profitable and cost-effective. But to organize a business, an entrepreneur needs to decide on the most suitable type of fish, the method of breeding and the characteristics of its maintenance. The profit and benefits from breeding and growing vendace will be obvious if you follow all the details of the business plan.
Pond fish farming: all types
Today, pond fish farming is divided into two main types: warm-water and cold-water. Vendace is a fish that tries to avoid bodies of water with warm water, so the second option is more suitable for it. Regarding the cyclical nature of the process, pond farms are divided into full-system, feeding and fish nurseries.
Full-system farming provides for the entire growth cycle of fish from fry to commercial adult fish. Feeding farms raise adult fish, while fish hatcheries raise larvae, fry and fingerlings, sometimes raising fish for up to 2 years. Depending on the duration, firms are divided into farms with one-year, two-year and three-year turnover.
Reservoirs for keeping vendace
A developed pond economy provides for the presence of several reservoirs for different needs and seasons. The first and most important pond that should be located on the farm is a spawning pond. This reservoir has many high requirements regarding arrangement and maintenance. The reservoir should be located in a non-swampy area with young vegetation and favorable conditions for reproduction, hatching of eggs and development of larvae.
In ponds, the supply and flow of water must be fast and independent. The spawning pond should be used exclusively for spawning females.
Next, you will need to build a fry pond, where the environment should be nutritious and free of toxins and parasites that can harm small fish.
After the fry pond, the fish are released into the nursery pond, where the individuals are fed, and where the young of the year mature in the future. For convenience, it is recommended to place nursery ponds next to wintering ponds.
Another important factor in any successful fish farm is the presence of a wintering pond. Often, many vendaces die during wintering. This happens due to lack of oxygen and unfavorable temperature conditions. The depth of the pond should not be more than 1.5 meters. It is recommended to install a water supply source nearby in a peat-free area.
Feeding ponds provide for the cultivation of commercial specimens, due to which their size exceeds the parameters of others; vendace requires more freedom. An area of 150 hectares is recommended. You should not increase the volume; it is very difficult to control all periods of growth and development of fish. The reproductive rate of small pits is higher due to the creation of better conditions for the development of the food supply.
Composition and calorie content of vendace
Fish contains water, proteins and fats, as well as minerals: fluorine, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, nickel, histidine, calcium, chromium, chlorine, molybdenum; vitamin PP.
Vendace meat is rich in omega-3 acids, as well as calcium and phosphorus. In this combination, calcium absorption occurs with the best benefit for the body.
Another important advantage of vendace is its high magnesium content (175 mg per 100 g of product).
Compared to other freshwater fish, the calorie content of vendace is quite low and amounts to up to 78 kcal per 100 g of product. Therefore, the use of vendace is perfect for the diet menu.
Beneficial features
Vendace is a freshwater fish, but its healthy fat contains a large amount of Omega-3 acids, this is due to the fact that the fish prefers to feed not on phytoplankton, but on the smallest crustaceans, which are found in abundance in northwestern lakes.
Many people know about the benefits of Omega-3. First of all, these fats are necessary for the human body to maintain the integrity of membranes and maintain mental abilities - many adults experience shortages and deficiencies of these substances.
Omega-3 in vendace meat does not last as long as in marine meat. But modern deep freezing helps solve this problem. If you freeze fish correctly, it retains its beneficial properties for a long time. Among other things, ripus contains the following substances:
- Protein. Easily absorbed and digested by the body.
- Vitamin RR. Takes an active part in redox reactions throughout the body.
- Histidine. This is an essential acid that promotes cell growth and renewal.
Fish meat is also rich in minerals: sulfur, molybdenum, chlorine, fluorine, zinc, chromium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and others.
Another useful property is that vendace has a low calorie content - only 45-88 calories per 100 grams of product. It also contains a minimal amount of bones than other freshwater species: barely 1/10. Due to this, it is very pleasant to enjoy smoked, salted and dried vendace.
Benefit
1. The most important feature of fish is its low calorie content. Accordingly, it is a dietary product. In Rus' they even ate vendace during Lent.
2. It contains many useful substances. It contains protein, and this is extremely important in the nutrition of children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
3. It is recommended for use by people who are exposed to physical and intellectual stress. This is especially true for athletes.
4. It also contains Omega-3 acids, which are needed for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
5. Fish contains mineral elements. They have a positive effect on brain function.
6. Zinc is involved in regulating hormonal levels. If men consume foods high in zinc, their virility will be enhanced. And women become more stress-resistant.
7. It is acceptable to include fish in the menu for young children. Vendace meat contains histidine, an essential amino acid that the body needs for proper growth and cell renewal.
8. The meat of this fish slows down the aging process and protects the body from the negative effects of external factors. And this is especially important for women who want to remain young and beautiful for a long time.
9. Eating this fish helps strengthen bones. The product has a positive effect on kidney function and increases hemoglobin. This means that it should be used by all people who suffer from anemia.
10. Scientists have found that the product significantly reduces the manifestation of psoriasis. The product is often included in diets for neurological and dermatological diseases.
11. Vendace meat prevents asthma.
12. Children can be given this fish after they are one year old.
13. An important point in consuming the meat of this fish is the normalization of the nervous system.
14. If you eat vendace systematically, you can successfully cure depression and neurosis.
15. Can be used after operations and serious illnesses.
16. It is perfectly absorbed by the body and promotes rapid recovery.
17. The meat of this fish regulates blood pressure. But this does not apply to fried products.
The meat is very tender and pleasant to the taste
Gastronomic value
Ripus can be prepared in a variety of ways. It is valued not only fresh, but people also prefer to eat it salted or smoked. Vendace in tomato or pickled form is considered tasty and popular. Fish is used for frying in sour cream sauce.
It is vendace that is the basis of the traditional Finnish dish - pie, which is made from unleavened fried dough. Proper preparation of vendace guarantees delicious dishes. Before cooking, be sure to wash the fish, remove its skin and wait until the water drains. Next, the fish is prepared based on personal preferences.
For example, it is very popular to marinate vendace by boiling it for some time, and after it has cooled, pour it with a dressing of vinegar, bay leaf, finely chopped horseradish, and salt. After this, the fish is sprinkled with dill and allspice, dill is added, and left for several days. So the fish is soaked in vinegar, then a weight is placed on it and left for two weeks. This dish will be a real decoration for any holiday table.
Fried vendace is very tasty, as is fish soup prepared from this fish. There are no contraindications for consumption, the only exception being the presence of allergic reactions to seafood.
Cooking methods
You need to cook vendace immediately after catching it, as it can be stored for no more than a day. Therefore, if it is impossible to carry out culinary processing, the fish is salted or frozen, after gutting it. Residents of the North usually use dry salting, but if desired, you can fill the carcass with brine or marinade.
Vendace stuffed with mashed potatoes in 60 minutes
Various methods are used to prepare fish. It is boiled, fried, stewed (often in tomato or sour cream), baked, pickled, dried, smoked, fish soup, pates, and dumplings are prepared from it. In Finland, vendace is fried in a mixture of rapeseed and butter, first rolled in rye flour. It is also used to make kalakukko, the Finnish national pie.
Interesting information about fish
There are several interesting facts about vendace. Here are some of them:
- The coat of arms of the city of Pereslavl-Zalessky depicts smoked vendace.
- Rhipus, which lives in Lake Pleshcheyevo, was previously used to prepare dishes that were later served to royalty. Previously, fish were prohibited from being caught and sold. If the order was violated, the fish catchers were sent to death.
- Vendace was part of the coronation dinner.
- Vendace is considered a favorite fish of the Finns, because they usually fry fish fillets, roll them in flour, and serve them to people who come to a street festival. The fish is fried in two oils: butter and reps. This improves the taste of the fish several times.
Vendace is a unique fish that has excellent taste and contains virtually no bones, for which it is so valued by many gourmets. Many delicious dishes are prepared from fish, including fish pates and even fillings for dumplings. Such fish are bred and raised in ponds, and the demand for it does not fall.
0
0
Copy link
