FISHES OF NEW YOKK 63 



Mode of capture. The fish are generally caught by seining. 



Edible qualities. The flesh of the paddlefish is frequently con- 

 sidered tough and sharklike, but individuals of 8 or 10 pounds 

 are skinned, and sold in some of the western markets freely, 

 and are thought b}" some persons to be fairly good for the 



table. 



Order ciiondrostei 



Sturgeons 

 Family AciPENsiSFiiDAE: 



Sturgeons 

 Genus acipenser Linnaeus 



Body elongate, subcylindric, armed with five rows of bony 

 bucklers, each with a median keel terminating in a spine which 

 becomes obsolete with age; a median dorsal series of bucklers, 

 and a lateral and abdominal series on each side, the abdominal 

 series sometimes deciduous; between these the skin is rough 

 with small, irregular plates. Head covered with bony plates 

 joined by sutures; snout produced, subconic; spiracles present; 

 mouth small, inferior, protractile, with thickened lips; no teeth; 

 gill rakers lanceolate; four barbels in a transverse series on the 

 lower side of the snout in front of the mouth; eyes small; nos- 

 trils large, double, in front of eye; gills four; an accessory oper- 

 cular gill; gill membranes united to isthmus; pseudobranchiae 

 small or obsolete; no branchiostegals ; maxillary distinct from 

 the premaxillary; fin rays slender, all articulated; vertical fins 

 witii fulcrums; pectorals placed low; ventrals many-rayed, be- 

 hind middle of body; dorsal placed posteriorly; anal somewhat 

 behind dorsal, similar; tail heterocercal,the lower caudal lobe de- 

 veloped; the tail not depressed or mailed; air bladder large, sim- 

 ple, connected with the esophagus; stomach without blind sac; 

 rectum with a spiral valve; pancreas divided into pyloric ap- 

 pendages. (After Jordan and Evermann) 



35 Acipenser sturio Linnaeus 



Common sturgeon 



Aci-ijciiser sturio Linxaecs, Syst. Nat. cd. X, 237, 1758; Guntheb, Cat. Fish. 

 Brit. Mus. VIII, 342, 1870; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat 

 iMus. 105, 1896; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVI, 90, 1898. 



