202 THE COMMON STURGEON. 



At the approach of spring, Sturgeons leave the 

 deep recesses of the sea, and enter the rivers to 

 spawn ; and from May to July the American rivers 

 abound with them. Here they are often observed 

 to leap to the height of several yards out of the 

 water, which they do in an erect position, falling 

 back again on their sides with such noise as to be 

 heard in the still evenings to a great distance. They 

 have often been known, at these times, to tall into 

 the small boats or canoes of the Indians, and sink 

 them. On this account it is often dangerous to 

 pass the places that are much frequented by them ; 

 many instances have occurred of people losing 

 their lives by this means. Some of the Indians 

 take advantage of this propensity to leaping to 

 catch them, by stationing themselves in tolerably 

 large boats in the places where they are seen, and 

 receiving them as they tall"*. 



In some rivers of Virginia, the Sturgeons are 

 found in such numbers that six hundred have been 

 taken in two days, with no more trouble than put- 

 ting down a pole, with a hook at the end, to the 

 bottom, and drawing it up again, on feeling it rub 

 against a fishf. They are, however, chiefly killed 

 in the night with harpoons, attracted by the light 

 of torches made of the wood of the black pine. 

 On the shores are frequently seen the bodies of 

 Sturgeons that have been wounded with the spears, 

 and have afterwards died. 



Catesby, vol. ii. p. xxxiii. t Burnaby, 15. 



