296 CARTILAGINEI. — ACIPENSERID^. 



been taken of the weight of four hundred and 

 sixty pounds ; and the Great Sturgeon attains 

 a length of twenty feet, and a weight of two 

 thousand pounds ; of which the roe, which con- 

 stitutes its chief value, weighs one fourth part. 



The Sturgeon, when taken in the Thames, is 

 called a Royal fish, by which is meant, that it 

 ought to be, and formerly was, presented to the 

 sovereign, for the royal table. The flesh, which 

 is much more solid than that of fish generally, is 

 considered as a great delicacy ; it is usually stewed 

 with a rich gravy, and is commonly compared to 

 veal. It was held in high repute among the 

 luxurious Romans, in the times of the empire : 

 according to Pliny it was brought to table with 

 much pomp, adorned with garlands ; the slaves 

 who carried the dishes were also decorated in a 

 similar manner, and marched to the sound of 

 music. 



Caviare is prepared in the following way. The 

 roes, taken out and placed in tubs, are cleansed 

 with water ; the fibrous parts, by which the ova 

 are connected, are removed, and the spawn is 

 rinsed in white wine, or vinegar, and spread to 

 dry. It is then put into a vessel and salted, 

 being crushed down at the same time with the 

 hands, and afterwards inclosed in linen bags to 

 drain off the moisture. Finally, it is packed in 

 tubs, pierced in the bottom, that any remaining 

 moisture may yet drain off, and closed down for 

 domestic use or exportation. Sometimes it is 

 said to be preserved, after having been salted and 

 seasoned, by being rolled up into large balls, and 

 immersed in vessels of oil ; or the rolls are in- 

 closed in wax, so that the air may be more 

 effectualjy excluded. 



