DECLINE OF STURGEON INDUSTRY 



299 



1898. During that period, 17 states participated in a catch 

 which amounted to 5,726,830 pounds, which sold for $321,036. 

 The catch in Oregon was nearly two million pounds, that of 

 New Jersey 868,326, and Virginia next. 



THE IMPENDING EXTINCTION OF THE STURGEON INDUSTRY. 

 When the first edition of this Natural History was pub- 



LAKB STURGEON. 



lished, in 1904, the Sturgeon fishing industry of the United 

 States was at the zenith of prosperity. Since that time a great 

 change has taken place, and the Sturgeon is now well down 

 the toboggan-slide to oblivion. For the sake of the lesson 

 that the fate of this industry could teach to our commercial 

 fishermen, if they would pause to consider it, I deem it well 

 worth while to reproduce a page from the annual report of 

 United States Fish Commissioner Hugh M. Smith, for the 

 year ended June 30, 1913, page 66. It is entitled "The 

 Passing of the Sturgeon." 



