60 CAVIARE FROM STURGEON. 



There was but little willing assistance however, 

 towards this desirable object ; as few possessed 

 any active spirit of public improvement ; and 

 the general habits of the people being those of 

 lounging and smoking, were but little favour- 

 able to voluntary exertions. 



Sturgeon are caught at this period, from sixty 

 to one hundred pounds weight and more, in 

 great abundance at the Settlement ; and also 

 for about a month in the fall of the year, a 

 little below the rapids towards the mouth of 

 the river. The oil of this fish is sometimes 

 used as lamp oil by the settlers ; and the sound, 

 when carefully and quickly dried in the shade, 

 by hanging it upon a line in a good breeze, 

 forms isinglass, the simple solution of which 

 in water makes a good jelly, and may be sea- 

 soned by the addition of syrup and wine, or 

 of the expressed juices of any ripe fruit. The 

 roe is often cooked immediately it is taken 

 from the fish; but, when salted and placed 

 under a considerable pressure until dry, it 

 forms the very nutritious article of food named 

 caviare. They generally afford us an abun- 

 dant supply of provisions for about a month 

 or five weeks ; and when they leave the river, we 

 have usually a good supply of cat fish^ weighing 



