THE STURGEONS. 529 
them to take all they can get and to leave none for rivals, present or 
future. 
The blunt-nosed Sturgeon is a second eastern species and much smaller 
than the first. It rarely attains a length of two feet, and the average is 
considerably less ; the largest recorded individual was 33 inches long. It 
has only been observed in the Delaware River, but it probably will be found 
also in the Chesapeake Bay. At any rate, it appears to be a rare form. 
According to Ryder, it is never taken in the large gill-nets used in capturing 
the common form, for the reason probably that it never reaches a large 
enough size. It is so much smaller than the common Sturgeon that the 
sex of the young of the latter cannot be distinguished by the naked eye till 
it passes beyond the size of the mature small species, while the séx of the 
latter may be determined in individuals 18 inches long. 
The species is further distinguished from the common one by its dark-brown 
color, comparatively smooth skin, wide mouth, and early maturity. 
In the first quarter of the century, according to Lesueur, the species, 
“although not the object of a special fishery, [was] nevertheless more 
sought after, and [commanded] a higher price than the large common 
species.” At that time they were “brought to the Philadelphia market in 
the vernal season and [fetched] from 25 to 75 cents apiece.” They were, 
however, even then “eaten by the common people only.” 
Ryder, in comments upon these statements in 1890, remarks that the fish 
“does not seem to be eaten at all by the present generation of Delaware 
fishermen.” 
LAKE STURGEON. 
The Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser rubicundus) inhabits not only the Great 
Lakes (especially the upper Lakes), but also the Mississippi River and 
tributaries. It is variously called Ohio Sturgeon, Red Sturgeon, Rock 
Sturgeon, and Stone Sturgeon as well as Lake Sturgeon. A distinctive 
character is the number of shfelds (about 15 dorsal, 38 lateral, and ro 
ventral), but in very old individuals these may be lost. It sometimes 
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