STURGEONS. 295 



Genus Jcipenser. (Linn.) 



In addition to the characters already detailed, 

 the Sturgeons have the snout more or less pro- 

 longed and pointed, and furnished, on its under 

 surface, with several cirri or beards, which hang 

 down in front of the tubular, protrusile mouth. 

 The fins are rather small, and, with the excep- 

 tion of the pectorals, are all placed far behind. 

 The flesh in general is wholesome and agreeable ; 

 the roe, which is of considerable bulk, is made 

 into a substance called caviare, held in high 

 estimation in some parts of Europe ; isinglass 

 of the best quality, is made of the inner coats 

 of the large and thickened air-bladder ; and the 

 skin is sometimes made into leather, or pre- 

 pared as a substitute for window-glass. Hence 

 these fishes are the subjects of important fisheries, 

 especially in the east of Europe. The Russian 

 fisheries, on the Caspian Sea, are very valuable ; 

 three species inhabit that great inland lake, — the 

 Common Sturgeon {Acipenser skirio), the Great 

 Sturgeon (A. huso), and the Sevruga {A. helops). 

 The number of fishes taken in a single season is 

 immense ; of the first species named, three hun- 

 dred thousand ; of the second, one hundred and 

 three thousand ; of the third, one million three 

 hundred thousand ; are considered as the annual 

 average. The products of isinglass, and caviare, 

 exclusive of the flesh, which is preserved in vari- 

 ous ways, and is a valuable article of merchandise, 

 are alone worth more than 100,000/. per annum. 



We have said that these fishes attain large 

 dimensions ; the Common Sturgeon, which oc- 

 casionally ascends the rivers of this country, has 



