THE STURGEONS 



THERE are about twenty different spe- 

 cies of sturgeons distributed in Euro- 

 pean, Asiatic, and American waters; 

 of these six are native to North 

 America, but only three are found in New Eng- 

 land and Eastern Canada. The first of these is 

 known as the common or commercial sturgeon 

 [Acipenser sturio). It has rather a sharp nose, nearly 

 as long as its head, with barbels or " feelers " 

 about midway between the mouth and tip of 

 snout. Its color is grayish olive above the lateral 

 line, lighter or paler below it. It is extremely 

 common on the Atlantic coast, and ascends the 

 rivers to spawn and feed. 



The second form is the lake sturgeon [Acipenser 

 rubicundus) locally known as the " Ohio stur- 

 geon," "stone sturgeon," "rock sturgeon," and 

 " red sturgeon." It is the common fresh-water 

 sturgeon of the lakes and streams of the Missis- 

 sippi Valley and of the Great Lakes, and does not, 

 as a rule, descend to the sea. It seldom grows 

 larger than six feet, nor exceeds one hundred 

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