528 AMERICAN FISHES. 
almost black, but varies from “light roe” to “dark roe.” Care is taken by 
the fishermen not to mix the two colors, as a ‘‘ pepper and salt appearance 
is not considered desirable by the dealers.” 
In the early ages of the United States, the Sturgeon was held in little 
esteem ; the most generally known run was up the Hudson River, and 
it was quite widely known to New Yorkers as “Albany beef.” For half a 
century and especially the last several decades, however, the demand has 
been ever increasing, and a large industry has, or rather had, grown up. 
The demand for caviar, an acquired taste, has been responsible for this, 
and the demand has now outgrown the supply. The wastefulness and 
improvidence of the fishermen have reacted against themselves, and the 
latest outcome is truthfully described in the following article published in 
“The Sun” of New York for January 2, 1902. 
“ Hundreds of men in little towns along the shores of Delaware Bay, who 
have for years earned a living at sturgeon-fishing, have turned to other 
occupations. In past years the women folk and children have spent the long 
winter evenings in knitting sturgeon nets, but this winter few fathoms of net 
were made. In all the bay-side towns sturgeon boats, oars, and nets are 
being offered for sale at a sacrifice. 
“ Last spring the sturgeon-fishing was the biggest kind of a failure. The 
fish were scarce and small. 
“ A decade ago great schools of sturgeon came into the bay every spring, 
and hundreds were caught. Caviar was then worth from $50 to $60 a keg, 
and the output from the Cape May county fisheries was from 300 to 400 
kegs, bringing in returns between $20,000 and $25,000. 
“Last spring the agents of foreign firms went the rounds of the bay-side 
villages offering $120 a keg for caviar, and although several hundred men 
were engaged in fishing every day for eight weeks, all the caviar they 
offered for sale was sixty-eight kegs. 
“Several years ago sturgeon-fishing was one of the most important enter- 
prises of South Jersey. It was also one of the most lucrative. 
“ For some unexplainable reason the run of fish has annually diminished. 
South Jersey’s output of caviar will be small next season, and lovers of that 
delicacy will pay higher prices for it.” 
The reason for the diminished runs is not by any means “ inexplicable.” 
The diminution is the very natural result of excessive reckless overfish- 
ing without any antidotal measures for the utilization of any eggs for 
artificial propagation. The greed and improvidence of the fishermen impel 
