The settlement Rybnaya Sloboda (Fish-settlement) first mentioned in the beginning of 16th century. The main business of people who lived here was fishing. The first then was given to Tsar’s kitchen. At that time one could meet there a fish of man’s size. Things changed when the ruler of Russian country became Peter the Great. Under his reigh Russia conquested the lands near the Baltic Sea. Here we see ship’s gun’s of that time. New capital of Russia – Saint Petersburg – was build on the Neva-river. Huge amounts of materials and food were demanded for building. That’s why Peter the Great ordered to build artificial water channel. It was used for transferring goods from fertile South to Saint Petersburg. On this way Rybnaya Sloboda took quite a winning point. After this settlement the river became very shoal, and the large boats could not continue their way to the capital. In Sloboda goods were transloaded to smaller boats. So Rybnaya Sloboda became one of the largest passing points of Russia. The trade here began its active development. In 18th century Rybnaya Sloboda was visited by Russian Head Ekaterina the Second. Specially for her a wooden Palace was built. When Erfterina went to the bank from the boat, she visited the church. Wives of merchants greeted her by covering her way with rich shawls. The Head was satisfied with the settlement, she saw that this was quite large. So in the year 1777 she signed an edict, which made it town. Also the town gets its coat of arms. It is a red shield, devided into 2 parts: the upper is coat of arms of province showing a bear with a sword coming from behind the river. In the lower part there is a ladder by which the Head Ekaterina went up the bank, and a river with two fish with which Rybinsk is famous.