476 



STURIOMD.E. 



skin. Several of them bring forth their young alive in a 

 manner very different from any of the true bony fishes ; while 

 some, and these the last in the series, want that degree of or- 

 ganization in the bones of the upper jaw observable in those 

 generally which have been hitherto described, but of which 

 two or three examples of deficiency by malformation have 

 been figured. 



This order may be said to be further distinguished by 

 including within its limits fishes exhibiting in certain points 

 of their structure the highest as well as the lowest degrees of 

 organization observable throughout the whole class. These 

 different peculiarities will be pointed out on arriving at the 

 different genera in succession. 



The Sturgeon, the first of the cartilaginous fishes, allied to 

 the Sharks in the elongated form of its body, resembles other 

 fishes in having the gills free, and in being oviparous. It is 

 caught occasionally on various parts of our coast, most fre- 

 quently in the estuaries, or but a short distance up rivers ; 

 very seldom taken in the open sea, where it is believed 

 to inhabit deep water, beyond the reach of nets, and is not, 

 that I am aware, ever caught upon the fishermen's lines. 

 Dr. Neill says that one or two are generally taken every 

 summer about the mouth of the Almond or of the Esk, 

 where they get entangled in the Salmon nets, and when of 

 large size frequently doing the fishermen considerable damage 

 by tearing their nets. They are otherwise harmless. One 

 caught in a stake net near Findhorn in Scotland in July 

 1833, measured eight feet six inches in length, and weighed 

 two hundred and three pounds. 



The Sturgeon is occasionally taken on the East coast, and 

 frequently brought to the London market from various loca- 

 lities. When caught in the Thames, Avithin the jurisdiction 

 of the Lord Mayor, it is considered a Royal Fish ; the term 

 being intended to imply that it ought to be sent to the King, 



