FISHING KOLKHOZ “AUDRURAND”

FISHING KOLKHOZ “AUDRURAND”

FISHING KOLKHOZ: a collective farm with fishing as its primary production in the Soviet Union. In the Estonian SSR, the first fishing kolkhozes were established in 1949, reorganizing existing fishing associations and artels. By the end of 1949, there were 111 fishing kolkhozes in Estonia. In 1970, 25 of them remained, and by 1976 only 8.

Foundation and Early Years

On April 14, 1949, 32 fishermen from the villages of Sarvi, Kabriste, and Saulepi in Pärnu County participated in the meeting to establish the fishing kolkhoz at Ruuna farm. 25 applications were submitted to join the kolkhoz. The kolkhoz was named “Audrurand” and Voldemar Paju was elected chairman. Already on April 29, a new chairman was elected: the master of Sarna farm, Martin Tarkpea.

From the 1949 socialization acts:

  • socialized motorboats 17, rowboats 3, large fish nets 491.
  • large fish trap nets 53, Baltic herring trap nets 14, Baltic herring nets 5.
  • eel trap nets 10, bottom lines 2 boxes.

The annual fishing plan was 1800 centners. In 1950, there were 39 families in the kolkhoz, with 67 members. In 1955, the legendary Feliks Aas began to lead the kolkhoz, and “Audrurand” fishing kolkhoz soon became a millionaire kolkhoz.

The Opening Party and Village Life

AUDRURAND FISHING KOLKHOZ opening party: “The opening party, which lasted several days, was held in December. Tables were placed in three rows in the large hall, and dancing took place in the vestibule. Preparing the catering for the party-goers took a whole week. Several pigs and calves were slaughtered for the opening party. Brawn was cooked in a two-hundred-liter pot, and several barrels of home-brewed beer were prepared. The entire kolkhoz people were invited.”

Artur Rinne sang at the opening party. In the new club building, parties were held, and films were shown about once a week. The kolkhoz office was on the upper floor of the building.

  • “Audrurand” fishing kolkhoz club and office building in Lindi village. 1959. Photo: Arved Luts, ERM.
  • At the site of the old club building now stands the Lindi Kindergarten-Primary School, opened in 2007.

Fish Industry and Processing

The smoking workshop, where hot-smoked Baltic herring was produced, began work in the “Audrurand” kolkhoz in 1965. Already the following year, the production of preserves (large boxes of spiced Baltic herring) was started.

  • Threading Baltic herring in the smoking workshop: V. Paju, V. Pirso, H. Jakobsoo, I. Martikainen, H. Väljas. Photo: Lindi community center photo collection.
  • “Pärnu Kalur” fishing kolkhoz Audrurand department Lindi fish industry canning and smoking workshop. 1975. Photo: Silvia Kiil. Maritime Museum photo collection.
  • “Pärnu Kalur” fishing kolkhoz Audrurand department Lindi fish industry cold storage. 1975. Photo: Silvia Kiil. Maritime Museum photo collection.

Product Labels and Russian Text:

  • Koumsalien [sic]
  • LITTLE COW OF HOT SMOKING (КОРОВКА ГОРЯЧЕГО КОПЧЕНИЯ)
  • Spiced Baltic herring
  • BALTIC HERRING (САЛАКА)

Statistics and Bylaws

  • 1949: 2539.98 centners of fish caught, which is 140.6% of the annual plan.
  • 1950: 42 fishermen. Fishing plan 2400 centners, 3350 caught.
  • 1957: 140 members in the kolkhoz, of whom 60 were fishermen. Fishing plan 7320 centners, 5916 centners caught.
  • 1959: 14 pound nets and 200 fish trap nets were put in the sea. 6,971 centners of fish were caught—in monetary value 772,283 rubles. The cost price of 1 kg of fish was 1.35 rubles.

Personal Property of Kolkhoz Members: A kolkhoz member could have 0.6 ha of land. Every kolkhoz family could have 2 cows, 1 young animal, 1 sow with piglets, up to 10 sheep and goats; as many rabbits and chickens as they wanted. Up to 10 beehives were also allowed.

Agriculture and Logistics

“Audrurand” also engaged in agriculture: there were both a dairy cattle barn and a garden here.

  • Lindi harbor, kolkhoz truck and driver U. Käsper. 1961. Photo: Elmar Käsper photo collection.
  • Lindi village street near the harbor. In the distance, the village’s first apartment building. Photo: Elmar Käsper photo collection.
  • Kolkhoz workshop car garages. Photo: Lindi community center photo collection.

In 1973, Audrurand fishing kolkhoz was merged into “Pärnu Kalur”. The harbor in Lindi continued as the Audrurand department of the “Pärnu Kalur” fishing kolkhoz.