226 THE STURGEON A MOYAL FISH 



rows, while the other hauls in the fish. The instruments 

 used consist of a mallet and a stick, with a large unbarbed 

 hook at the end. Every fisherman has a certain number of 

 lines. One line contains fifty hooks; these are placed at 

 regular distances from each other ; they are without barbs, 

 sunk about a foot under water, and are kept in motion by 

 small pieces of Avood attached to them. The sturgeon gen- 

 erally swims in a large shoal near the surface of the water, 

 and upon being caught by one hook, he generally gets en- 

 tangled with one or two others in his struggles to escape. 

 Immediately on our arrival the boats pulled from shore. 

 Each fisherman proceeded to take up his lines. On coming 

 to a fish he drcAV it with his hooked stick to the side of the 

 boat, hit it a violent blow on the head Avith the mallet, and, 

 after disengaging it from the other hooks, hauled it into the 

 boat. On every side the tremendous splashing of the water 

 announced the capture of some huge inhabitant of the 

 deep.'' 



The sturgeon belongs to a numerous species inhabiting 

 both sea and fresh water — those of the former, and the 

 largest kind, being especially plentiful in the Caspian and 

 Black Seas, where they attain a length of from twenty to 

 twenty-five feet, and have been known to weigh nearly three 

 thousand pounds. The flesh has the appearance and con- 

 sistency of veal, and Avas highly esteemed by the ancients. 

 Pliny states that it Avas brought to table Avith much pomp, 

 and ornamented Avitli floAvers, the slaA^es Avho carried it be- 

 ing also decorated Avith garlands and accompanied Avith 

 music. 



In England, Avhen caught in the Thames and Avithin ju- 

 risdiction of the city, it is reserved for the Sovereign as a 

 *' royal fish." In ihe Illustrated London Neivs for the 15th 

 of April, 1860, is a notice of a fine sturgeon thus taken, and 

 forAA^arded to the Queen at Windsor by order of the con- 

 servators of the river. 



