STERLET. 537 



It is from the sound, or air-bladder of this species, that the well- 

 known substance called isinglass is prepared : this is done by cleans- 

 ing, splitting, and drying that part, either in the air, or occasionally 

 by a fire, and either twisting or flattening it, according to the parti- 

 cular >orts by which it is distinguished in commerce. An ample 

 account of the preparation of this useful article, may be found in the 

 sixty-third volume of the Philosophical Transactions: the skin, tail, 

 stomach, and intestines of the tish are used for the same purpose ; 

 ami indeed an isinglass, of a somewhat inferior kind, may be pre- 

 pared from the same parts of many other fishes. 



3. Sterlet. 

 Acipenser ruthenus. Linn. 

 The sterlet is the smallest species of sturgeon yet discovered: 

 in length, it rarely exceeds three feet, and is principally found in 

 the Caspian sea, and the adjoining rivers Volga and Ural : it is also 

 found, though much less frequently, in the Baltic sea. It is said to 

 have been introduced into some of the large lakes of Sweden by 

 Frederick the first ; and into some parts of Brandenburg and Po 

 merania, by the King of Prussia. The head of this species is longer 

 in proportion than in other sturgeons, and flattened both above and 

 below : the body rather more slender ; and the bony shields, with 

 which the upper parts are covered, less protuberant, and of a 

 thinner substance : along the belly are also disposed two ranges of 

 small, flat shields: the general colour is dusky above; whitish, and 

 variegated with rose coloured spots beneath : the rows of tubercUb 

 are of a yellow cast, and the whole skin is slightly roughened into a 

 kind of scaly appearance : the ventral, and anal fins, are of a deep 

 rose-colour: the rest blueish-brown : the usual numher of shields, 

 or tubercles, is, according to Dr. Bloch, fourteen along the back, 

 and fifty-nine along each side. 



The sterlet is in much higher esteem, as an article of food, than 

 any other species, and is even considered as one of the most deli- 

 cate of fishes. Sterlet soup, it is well known, formed one of the 

 favourite luxuries of that gigantic epicure, Prince Potemkin, of 

 Ru-sia; who, in seasons when the fish happened to be dear, was 

 content to purchase it at a price so extravagant, that a single tureen, 

 forming the mere prelude to his repast, stood him in the sum of 

 300 rubles ! 



