346 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



or " nail bed " is lost tbe nail does not again grow ont, so in the case 

 of the fish, if the entire investment of the scale, both internally and 

 externally, was removed the latter wonld not be formed again. 



This observation has some slight jn-actical valne, since in the trans- 

 portation of young carp it frequently happens that the scales which, 

 as in many fishes, are not firmly embedded in the superficial layers of 

 the skin, are accidentally removed in handling, even when considerable 

 care is exercised, to the apparent injury of the individuals. If it is true 

 that under ordinary circumstances scales which have been lost without 

 impairing the tissue from which they have been formed are again pro- 

 duced in the situation and of the same size as the scales which have 

 been removed, then it is evident that such an injury is not very serious, 

 even if not desirable, and that it will not very greatly interfere with the 

 growth and health of the young fish. 



Washington, D. C, July 25, 1884. 



173 — THE STIJRGEOIV FISHERY. 

 Bj H. C. IIOVEY. 



In the month of May, when sturgeon most abound, the market is 

 usually supplied with other and choicer varieties of fish. Hence, until 

 recently', this really valuable food-fish has been neglected and its com- 

 mercial importance underestimated. This difficulty has been met and 

 overcome by the enterprise of New York packers. The process con- 

 sists in placing the sturgeon, as soon as caught and dressed, in a large 

 freezer, where, by a patented method, they are frozen solid as they lie 

 in boxes. This process is so perfected in the works at Salem, N. J., 

 that 125 sturgeon, averaging 85 pounds each when dressed, can be 

 frozen every seven hours. The fish are afterwards taken out of the 

 boxes and stored in large rooms, through the center of which a freez- 

 ing apparatus extends which is charged anew every day. By this 

 means the fish can be kept for months until they come into demand. 



The sturgeon range from Georgia, in winter, to Saint John, N. B,, in 

 summer, and are followed up in their season by men expert in their 

 capture. Large gill- nets are used in this business, each about 200 

 fathoms long and with meshes a foot in size. 



The Delaware Eiver is the principal field of operation. Sturgeon 

 enter this stream about the 22d of May, and in such immense numbers 

 that nets about a quarter length have to be used, larger ones being at 

 that tiuie unmanageable. Mr. Blacksou, an experienced fisherman, 

 tells me that he has seen them so abundant that his net would sink 

 with tlieir weight as soon as it was thrown out. The average catch 

 per net is from 25 to 30 fish apiece at each cast. This lasts about two 

 weeks. The sturgeon move steadily up-stream towards the head of the 



