256 sturgeon's shackles — caviabe. 



seen the hard stud-like bones inserted into the skin of 

 the sturgeon's back and sides. These are cut out in 

 shps, left on the head, and allowed to dry in the shape 

 of the fish. These preparations are known as shackles. 

 If my readers have a chance, they should obtain a 

 sample of these shackles, never mind how" old or dry 

 they may be. They should be soaked for three or four 

 days in water, and then boiled till all the flesh comes 

 off. It will be found that the stud-like bones are most 

 beautiful objects, being as hard or harder than ivory, 

 with the outer surface indented and marked as though 

 they had been carved by a Japanese artist. 



When set in silver, selected samples of these shackles 

 form very beautiful ornaments for ladies' dresses, and I 

 certainly would advise my lady readers who are always 

 looking out for something new" and pretty to try the 

 effect of sturgeons' " shackles " when worn as ornaments. 



As is well known, caviare is composed of the roe of 

 sturgeon ; and here is a good story about caviare — it 

 is told of a certain well-known learned professor. 

 A friend about to travel in Kussia called upon the 

 professor to know if he could collect anything specially 

 for him in those distant parts ; the traveller was 

 requested to collect specimens of the Eussian fishes. 

 After the lapse of some months a barrel was received 

 by the professor at the College of Surgeons ; no letter 

 or description came with it. The professor, forgetting 

 all about his Eussian fi'iend, opened the barrel, and 

 found a greasy-looking mass, not unlike soft soap ; he 

 carefully examined it, but could not make much of it, 

 so he placed it in a huge bottle, which was filled up with 

 methylated spirits of wine, and corked down. It was 

 labelled, *'Eoe of fish, locality and species unknown." 

 After a while the traveller returned, and, calling on the 



