386 REPORT OF THE 



Subclass TELEOSTOMI. True Fishes. 



Series GANOIDEI. Ganoid Fishes. 



Order CHONDROSTEI. The Sturgeons. 



Family ACIPENSERIDiE. Sturgeons. 



31. Common Sturgeon {Acipenser stiirio Linnaeus). 



The Common Sturgeon is now regarded as identical with the stiirio of Europe, 

 although the American form is said to show some slight differences from the Euro- 

 pean. The American Sturgeon was first described by Mitchill. DeKay also records 

 the fish under the name of the Sharp-nosed Sturgeon and Short-nosed Sturgeon, 

 the latter being the adult stage of the former. 



The Common Sturgeon attains a weight of over 500 lbs., but the average weight 

 is now not more than 150 lbs. The spawning season is spring and summer. The 

 number of eggs produced is from 1,000,000 to 2,500,000. Spawning takes place 

 in either the fresh or brackish waters of the streams. The incubation period is 

 about seven days in water at a temperature of 62 to 66 degrees. The artificial 

 hatching of the Sturgeon has not yet been satisfactorily accomplished. 



The Common Sturgeon ranges from New England to Carolina. It appears every 

 spring in Gravesend Bay and sometimes in the fall. It is hardy in captivity and 

 feeds chiefly upon hard clams. 



32. Short-nosed Sturgeon {Acipenser brevii'ostris Le Sueur). 



The Short-nosed Sturgeon is a smaller fish, seldom exceeding 3 feet in length. 

 It is usually much darker in color than the common sturgeon, and is easily distin- 

 guished by its very short snout. It ranges from Cape Cod to Florida, but is rare 

 northward. It has been taken rarely in Gravesend Bay. 



Series TELEOSTEI. Bony Fishes. 



Subclass OSTARIOPHYSI. 



Order NEMATOGNATHI. Catfishes. 



Family SILURIDiE. Catfishes. 



33. Sea Catfish; Gaff Topsail (Felielitliys inarinusW\lz\\\\\). 



The Catfish was first described by Mitchill under the name of the Salt Water 

 Catfish. DeKay also describes the fish under the name of Oceanic Catfish. He 



