FISHES. 515 



most frequently (otiiifi, which weighed four hundred and sixty 

 pounds. An enormous size to those who have only seen our 

 tresh-water fishes ! 



North America also furnishes the sturgeon : their rivers in 

 May, June, and July, supply them in very great abundance. At 

 that time they are seen sporting in the water, and leaping from 

 its surface several yards into the air. When they fall again on 

 their sides, the concussion is so violent, that the noise is heard, 

 in still weather, at some miles distance. 



But of all places where this animal is to be found, it appears 

 no where in such numbers as in the lakes of Frischehaff and 

 Curischaff, near the city of Pillau. In the rivers also that 

 empty themselves into the Euxine sea, this fish is caught in 

 great numbers, particularly at the mouth of the river Don. In 

 all these places the fishermen regularly expect their arrival from 

 the sea, and have their nets and salt ready prepared for their re- 

 ception. 



As the sturgeon is a harmless fish, and no way voracious, it 

 is never caught by a bait in the ordinary manner of fishing, but 

 always in nets. From the description given above of its mouth, 

 it is not to be supposed that the sturgeon would swallow any 

 hook capable of holding so large a bulk and so strong a swimmer. 

 In fact, it never attempts to seize any of the finny tribe, but lives 

 by rooting at the bottom of the sea, where it makes insects and 

 sea-plants its whole subsistence. From this qudity of fiounder- 

 iiig at the bottom it has received its name ; which comes from 

 the German verb Jloeren, signifying to wallow in the mud. That 

 it lives upon no large animals is obvious to all those who cut it 

 open, where nothing is found in its stomach but a kind of slimy 

 substance, which has induced some to think it lives only upon 

 water and air. From hence there is a German proverb, which 

 is applied to a man extremely temperate, when they say, he is 

 as moderate as a sturgeon. 



As the sturgeon is so temperate in its appetites, so is it also 

 equally timid in its nature. There would be scarcely any method 

 of taking it, did not its natural desire of propagation induce it to 

 incur so great a variety of dangers. The smallest fish is alone 

 sufficient to terrify a shoal of sturgeons ; for, being unfurnished 

 with any weapon of defence, they are obliged to trust to their 

 swiftness and their caution for fccurity. Like all animals that 



