160 ANECDOTES OF FISHES 



Caviar is made from the eggs, and isinglass from 

 the sounds of this fish. Phil. Trans, vol. Ivii. 



The river Zongouska, in Siberia, abounds in 

 sturgeons. The inhabitants of the neighbourhood 

 sell a great quantity yearly to D'llmsk, D'Leni- 

 seisk, and D'Irhoutsk. The most favourable 

 time for fishing is when the river is gently frozen. 

 They make use of a rod or pole, about four or 

 five feet long, at the extremity of which they fix 

 an iron, with two branches curved or bent, but 

 round, about half a foot from each other, and a 

 sharp point coming out between the branches. 

 When they fish, they break the ice, and put the 

 rod into the holes, at the deepest part of the river, 

 and continue to sound different places, until they 

 have found the sturgeons. As soon as they have 

 found the fish, they go into the branches, two at 

 a time, (that is, two in each branch), until the 

 whole are caught. They take at a time from two 

 to three hundred. If any are injured, and blood 

 issues from the wound, the fishing immediately 

 ceases, as the fish all leave the place. 



Gmelin, Voyage en Siberie, vol. i. 



This river (Medway) was formerly well stored 

 with salmon and sturgeon. The Bishop of Roches- 

 ter derived a valuable part of his revenue from the 

 fishing for sturgeon. One was caught near Maid- 



