CHONDROPTERYGII. 183 



and weighed two hundred and three pounds; but 

 Pennant mentions one, captured in the Esk, which 

 weighed four hundred and sixty pounds.* The 

 flesh of the Cartilaginous Fishes generally is firmer 

 and more compact, and more like meat than that 

 of the Bony Fishes. That of the Sturgeon " is in 

 request for the table, being generally stewed with 

 rich gravy, and the flavour considered to be like 

 that of veal." It spawns in the rivers during the 

 summer months, and in the north and east of Eu- 

 rope is the subject of important fisheries. 



A genus called Chimcsra^ from their singular 

 appearance, appear to be intermediate between the 

 Sturgeons and the Sharks, agreeing with the former 

 in having but a single external gill-opening, though 

 as in the latter this aperture leads to five holes, and 

 the gills are fixed by a great part of their edges : 

 the tail ends in a long slender thread. The North- 

 ern Chimasra (C. Monstrosa) follows the Herring 

 shoals for prey ; it is three feet long, silvery white, 

 beautifully marbled with rich brown. 



* During the progress of this work, a large one, reported to be nine 

 feet in length, and to weigh two hundred and eighty pounds, was taken 

 in the Thames near Battersca. 



t A fabled monster. 



