THE FISHING-FROG. 105 



ular manner : it is also made from the roe of the common stur 

 geon ; but as it is chiefly prepared from the former, it derives 

 from that species the general name of caviar. This, however, is 

 more in request in the other countries of Europe than in Eng- 

 land. It is one of those high-relished viands, to which the ap- 

 petite must be adapted by degrees, and which, although formerly 

 esteemed at the most elegant tables in England, is now but little 

 in use in that country. It is, however, still a considerable article 

 of merchandise among the Turks, Greeks, and Venetians. It 

 somewhat resembles soft soap in consistency; but is of a 

 brown colour, and is frequently eaten with bread instead of 

 cheese. 



The isinglass fish, the third species of the sturgeon kind, fur- 

 nishes the still more valuable commodity which derives from it 

 its name. This fish is caught in great quantities in the Danube, 

 and some other large rivers, from the month of October to that 

 of January. It is sometimes found of the weight of four hundred 

 pounds, and seldom under fifty. Its flesh is soft and flabby, and 

 not held in great esteem ; but it is chiefly sought for the com- 

 modity which it furnishes. 



The manner of preparing isinglass is this : the skin, the en- 

 trails, the fins, and the tail of the fish, being cut into small 

 pieces, and left for some time to macerate in a sufficient quan- 

 tity of warm water, are afterwards boiled over a slow fire, until 

 they are dissolved and reduced to a jelly. This jelly, having ac- 

 quired a proper consistency, is spread into sheets, like those of 

 parchment, and then formed into rolls, as we see them exposed 

 to sale in the shops. Isinglass is of great use, not only in medi- 

 cine, but likewise in the manufacture of various kinds of cloth. 

 The wine-merchant, and the varnisher also, find it a necessary 

 article in their respective branches of business. This valuable 

 and extensively useful commodity is furnished chiefly from Rus- 

 sia, where great quantities of it are prepared at a very cheap 

 rate. Thus, in the sturgeon and its congenerous species, we 

 contemplate an animal of the deep, of great commercial im- 

 portance and benefit to mankind. 



To this description of a race of fishes so interesting, by reason 

 of the profits and conveniencies derived from them, we shall 

 subjoin a short account of one, which, from the singularity of 

 its conformation, is scarcely less curious than the former are 

 interesting. 



THE FISHING-FROG 



In shape very much resembles a tadpole, its head being equal 

 in size to all the rest of its bulk. It grows to the length of five 

 feet ; and Mr. Pennant mentions one taken near Scarborough, 

 11 * 



