163 



HUSO. 



Huso, Willoughby ; p. 2 3, tab. p. 7. 



Aci/penser huso, Linn^us. Cuvier. Bloch, pi. 129. 



AV r E introduce the name of this species into our pages, 

 because we would direct the attention of British naturalists to 

 the possibility of its occurrence in our waters, and in the 

 hope that on the report of the capture of an example of 

 what might pass as the common species, an examination may 

 be made, whether in fact it may not be an example of this, 

 as yet questionable species. It stands on the list of Irish 

 fishes, as having more than once been met with in that 

 country; and so much as is known of these reported cap- 

 tures, is given in the fourth volume of Mr. William Thompson's 

 "Natural History of Ireland;" but unfortunately no figure 

 or particular description appear to have been taken from the 

 fishes themselves. The following is all that Mr. Thompson 

 says on the subject; 



"In 1847 I contributed the following note to the 'Annals 

 of Natural History,' vol. xx: 'Isinglass Sturgeon, ( Acipenser 

 huso, Linnaeus.) A notice of the occurrence of this species 

 on the coast of Cork, in July, 1845, was communicated to 

 the 'Annals,' (vol. xvi, p. 213,) by Mr. John Humphreys, of 

 the city of that name. This gentleman, as well as Dr. Harvey, 

 of Cork, who subsequently examined the specimen, assures me 

 that it was A. huso, as represented in Shaw's 'Zoology,' vol. 

 v, pi. 159. Mr. Humphreys has informed me of the capture 

 of another specimen, which was taken in the second week of 

 April, 1847, at Carrigeen, near Curriglass, on the River 

 Bride, not far from its junction with the Blackwater. It 

 measured seven feet eight inches in length, and weighed 

 nearly two hundredweight." 



Shaw's description of this species is as follows: "Isinglass 



