20 BRITISH FRESHWATER FISHES 



Shrewsbury and in the Trent at Nottingham. Accord- 

 ing to Macpherson, a Sturgeon recently captured may 

 be a dangerous companion, and one has been known 

 to cut a man's leg to the bone with a blow of its tail, 

 the dorsal spines and the sharp-edged lateral scutes 

 making the latter a formidable weapon of offence. 



The flesh of the Sturgeon is generally esteemed, 

 and the preparation of caviare from the roe, and of 

 isinglass from the air-bladder, of this and other species 

 are large industries, principally carried on round the 

 Black and Caspian Seas. 



The French name for this fish is Esturgeon and the 

 German Stor, whilst similar words occur in other 

 languages and are probably from the same root as 

 the verb ' to stir,' in allusion to the habits of the fish. 



