158 COMMON STURGEON. 



The Sturgeon is sometimes taken of a size which must 

 strike with wonder those who have only had an opportunity 

 of seeing the usual inhabitants of our rivers, among which, 

 this fish appears indeed a Triton among the Minnows. From 

 eight to ten or eleven feet is the usual length, and the 

 weight is to the full correspondent with the dimensions. In 

 some rivers especially, as the Parret, and on the Welsh 

 Channel near Swansea, large Sturgeons have shewn themselves 

 at particular periods, as well as in the Wye and Usk; and 

 it is to be noticed that this has happened about the month 

 of May, at which time they are ceasing to be caught in the 

 Caspian and Russian rivers, the only time of ceasing to fish 

 for them in the last-named countries being in summer. The 

 largest example recorded as British is mentioned by Pennant, 

 and weighed four hundred and sixty pounds. I possess a 

 memorandum of another, which weighed three hundred and 

 fifty pounds; but what are these in comparison to the enor- 

 mous Acipenser huso, which has been seen of fifty-six feet in 

 length. (Historical and Geographical Description of the North 

 and East Part of Europe and Asia, by J. P. Strathlenberg, 4to, 

 1738.) He speaks from personal knowledge. 



Although the Sturgeon is a timid fish as compared with 

 the generality of the inhabitants of the sea, its great strength 

 may render it capable of inflicting considerable injury on those 

 who meddle with it incautiously, on its becoming entangled 

 in their net. A blow from the tail would probably break the 

 leg of a man. As a precaution therefore, the fishermen 

 accustomed to the work endeavour to bring the fish side wise 

 to the land, with the net enclosing it, and the head lifted 

 out of the water, in which position it ceases to offer any 

 further resistance. A Sturgeon which was caught within my 

 knowledge, was entirely helpless after it had discharged an 

 observable quantity of air, although it then lay in a net at 

 the depth of several fathoms. 



When at liberty it is the habit of this fish to seek its food 

 by turning up the soft bottom of the river or sea with its 

 sensitive and moveable snout; and the quickness of feeling in 

 these parts, including the barbs hanging from them, enable it 

 to discern and select whatever is appropriate to its appetite. 

 Worms are probably a favourite food, but in a paragraph 



