World Notes Czechoslovakia

Kickbacks and payoffs and carp. They are all part of the Christmas tradition in Czechoslovakia, where the moon-mouthed fish is the centerpiece of holiday feasts. The challenge is to get a fat and tasty one, and that is where the corruption comes in. In Prague hundreds of fish vendors flock to giant carp tanks on the city's outskirts. They bribe the staff to give them big carp instead of small, the truckers to deliver the fish early instead of late and officials to award them prime locations on city streets. By the time the fish are ready for sale, the payoffs have added 40% to the cost. Since prices are set by the government, vendors must find ways of overcharging in order to make a profit. Some tack a few cents onto the bill, while others tip the scales by sloshing water into the weighing pan. Complained one Prague resident: "It's enough to make you want to eat pork."