Sir, – Reading "Murmansk Letter: Northern Lights brighten prospects for Arctic's biggest city" (World, December 15th), by your excellent writer Daniel McLaughlin, reminds me of a story I heard about the British sailors who had delivered much-needed supplies to the Russian port during the war. The inhabitants, anxious to show their gratitude, presented the crew of one ship with some jars of caviar. On spreading this delicacy on his bread at lunch, one bemused Jack Tar observed, "Ere, this jam tastes like fish." – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL GAVIN,
Cork.