BONY PIKE, BOW-FIN, STURGEON, REED-FISH, BICHIR 663 



probably caused by the escape 

 of air from the air-bladder. 

 During the breeding-season 

 the male takes entire charge 

 of the eggs. 



The Sturgeons differ 

 from the other fan-finned 

 fishes in many particulars. 

 To begin with, the skeleton 

 is almost entirely cartilagi- 

 nous instead of bony, whilst 

 externally the body is either 

 naked or covered with bony 

 bucklers, arranged symmetrically. The snout is prolonged into a more or less shovel-shaped 

 beak, used for turning over the mud at. the bottom of the water in search of prey, and in 

 some forms this becomes further developed into a spoon-shaped paddle, constituting one of the 

 most remarkable appendages of fishes. 



Sturgeons grow to a large size, and are the largest of the fresh-water fishes of the 

 northern hemisphere. The GlANT Sturgeon of the Black and Caspian Seas and the Sea of 



Fhali b) A. S. Rudland iV Sunt 



STURGEON 



The air-bladder of the sturgeon is used for making isinglass^ its roe for caiiiare 



Phtla by A. S. Rudland &• Soni 



STERLET 



^ smaller species of the Sturgeon group 



Azofif attains a length of 24 feet, and sometimes more, specimens of 3,200 lbs. weight having 



been recorded. 



On account of the wholesomeness of their flesh, sturgeons are highly esteemed wherever 



they are found. In Russian rivers they are very abundant, regular fishing-stations being 



estabhshed for their capture. The approach of a shoal of fish is announced by a watchman, 



and it is said as many as 



' 15,000 sturgeon have been 



captured at one of these sta- 

 tions in a single day. Should 

 the fishing be suspended for a 

 short time, the fish assemble 

 in such numbers as to form a 

 solid mass, completely block- 

 ing a river 400 feet in width 

 and 25 feet in depth. 



From the roe of these 

 fishes caviare is made, and 

 isinglass from the inner lining 



P*»(o h A. S. RudUnd tg Sons 



BICHIR 



A second representati've of the Enamel-scaled group 



