PIS i IKS OP M:W YORK 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 by some persons to be fairly good for the 

 table. 



Order CHOXDROSTKI 



Sturgeons 

 Family ACIPENSERIDAE 



Sturgeons 



Genus ACIPEXSER 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 

 with 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 



Acipenser gtyrio LIXXAEUS, Syst. Nat. ed. X, 237, 1758; GUXTHER, Cat. Fish. 

 Brit, Mns. VIII, 342, 1870; JORDAN & EVERMANN, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 

 Mus. 105, 1896; SMITH, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVI, 90, 1898. 



