In the late 19th century, an unusual scene could be observed at the Tsaritsyn railway station. Groups of merchants gathered in the waiting room, lively discussing and debating, and then some of them would turn to their servants and loudly order: "Three shots of vodka!" This was how deals for large batches of fish were made in Volgograd at that time. The reason they gathered at the station was the absence of their own exchange.

In the mid-19th century, a railway passed through the city, and the center of fish trade shifted from Astrakhan to Volgograd. Astrakhan merchants had to adapt and conduct "auctions" right at the station. A transshipment base emerged in Tsaritsyn, from where fish in fresh and dried forms was sent by train to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Finland, and other cities. Before the Civil War, the turnover of the fish market reached 15 million rubles. In Volgograd, sturgeon, beluga, ossetra, and other types of fish were stored, smoked, dried, processed, and salted. Surrounding this production, related crafts developed, such as cooperage, where numerous barrels for transportation were made.

The emergence of jobs attracted people from all over the Volga region to the city, contributing to its rapid enrichment. Fish became part of the daily diet of almost every resident. There was so much of it that in winter, it was even used to heat stoves. However, thoughtless and predatory fishing was strictly prohibited, monitored by the Administration of "Caspian-Volga Fish and Seal Fisheries."

Caviar was also abundant. One pound (about 450 grams) cost 1 ruble, which was not cheap, considering that an ordinary fisherman earned about 9-10 rubles a month. At that time, it was said that Tsaritsyn had a fish-oil scent, as a significant portion of the budget income came from Nobel's oil refineries.