Artel on the Murmansk fishery during the Soviet period (the 1920th)

One of the least studied subjects of the regional history of Murman, the artel, is considered in the article. The process of social and economic changes in the activity of the main unit of the Murmansk fisheries is researched. An attempt to consider the role of the state in all fields of the artel’s activity is made. The role of the state was followed from the moment of artel’s organization to the final stage of the catch’s sale. The author gives definitions of the term artel and describes its distinctive features characteristic of the pre-revolutionary and the Soviet periods. The role played by the state in the trade organization process, in the food and trade stock supply for artels is analyzed. The article studies conditions under which applicants could become members of the artel. The rights and responsibilities of the artel members are analyzed. The article contains the archival data, many of which are introduced into the scientific circulation for the first time. On the basis of this archival material an attempt to conduct a comprehensive study on the activities of the Murmansk fisheries’ artels is made. During the Soviet period the state played a paramount role in all processes of trade organization. The state promoted the artel as a main trade and socio-economic unit of Murmansk fisheries. The process was conducted through the system of local authorities and state enterprises. The artel received its legal basis for the first time during the Soviet period. The circle of people who could join the artel was defined in details. The rights and responsibilities of the artel members were specified. During the Soviet period the artel’s activity had a complex character. The artel members could not only catch red cod fish, as it was practiced in pre-revolutionary time, but they could also catch flounder fish, and marine mammals.