284 Common Sturgeon 



Histrio pictus — sargassum fish 



Common Sturgeon 

 Acipenser oxyrhynchus Mitchill 



Color: Blue-gray or olive-green above, gradually becoming 

 lighter on the sides. White in the region from the upper 

 side row of bony shields to the belly. 



Distribution: Coastal waters from Hudson Bay to the Gulf 

 of Mexico. 



Size: Reported to reach a length of 18 feet. A fish IV2 

 feet long weighed 190 pounds. 



General Information: The Common Sturgeon spends most 

 of its life in salt water but ascends rivers into fresh water 

 to spawn. Spawning takes place in spring and early sum- 

 mer. A large number of eggs are released by each fish. 

 One fish has been recorded as carrying 2Vi million eggs. 

 The eggs hatch in about one week. The young remain in 

 the rivers for several years until they reach 2V^— 3 feet, 

 although some may go to mouths of the rivers in the first 

 year when 5-6 inches long. Fish 7-8 feet long have been 

 estimated to be 12 years old. 



The Common Sturgeon is a bottom feeder. It uses the 

 pointed snout to stir up the mud and uncover food. 

 Barbels on the snout act as organs of touch to locate the 

 food on the murky bottom. Principal foods are worms, 

 small shellfish and fish, and small crustaceans. These are 

 sucked up by the vacuum-like, toothless mouth located on 

 the underside of the head. 



Economic Importance: Both flesh and roe of the Common 

 Sturgeon are highly esteemed foods. The flesh is commonly 

 sold as a smoked product and the roe in a processed form 



