178 BRITISH FISH AND nSHERIES. 



attains to an enormous size ; one recorded by 

 Pennant, which was caught in the Esk, weighed 

 460 pounds ; and in 1802, a specimen, eight 

 feet long, was caught in a Aveir below the 

 castle of Shrewsbury, and weighed 190 pounds. 

 The mouth of the sturgeon is destitute of teeth, 

 and it is said to feed principally on mollusks, 

 and various soft substances it may find at the 

 bottom of the water. The under side of the 

 snout is garnished with four barbules or feelers. 



Second order : Gills fixed. 



Various specimens of the shark tribe are 

 constant tenants of our seas, and other species 

 are either accidental or regular visitors to our 

 coasts. Some species of this ferocious group 

 produce their young alive ; others produce eggs, 

 if they may be so called, or rather horny cases, 

 of an oblong figure and compressed, in which 

 the young fish is inclosed. These cases, Avhen 

 empty, are thrown very commonly on our 

 shores ; from each angle long curling appen- 

 dages or filaments project, at least in the eggs 

 of most, as, for example, the small spotted 

 sea-dog {ScylUum canicula.) They are known 

 as sea-purses, mermaids' purses, etc. By means 

 of tliese filaments, or tendrils, they become 

 attached to sea-weeds ; and a small linear 

 fissure, near each end, allows the admission of 



