84 Production of Isinglass on the Coasts of India. 



Fishing occupies a great number of people, affords food to manv 

 of the inhabitants, and is the source of considerable revenue to 



The great Sturgeon (Acipenser Huso) — Br. and R. tab. i. fig. I.— Suppl. tab. i. 

 fig. 1, — called hausen or husen by the Germans, and beluga by the Russians, 

 attains a great size, being often twenty feet in length. It is an inhabitant of the 

 Caspian, especially of the quieter bays and gulfs, and of the rivers which flow into 

 it, and of their tributaries. It ascends these great rivers from the sea, towards the 

 end of winter when they are frozen, in order to deposit its spawn in spring, and is 

 said to return to the sea in the autumn. The fishery is performed by contract- 

 Many of the fish caught are kept in pieces of water, and are again brought up in 

 winter through holes made in the ice. Then the mass of the fish becomes frozen, 

 when it is distributed in this, as well as in a salted and pickled state, through the 

 interior of Russia. The roe and the Isinglass are at the same time separated. A 

 single fish is said sometimes to yield as much as 120 pounds of roe, with which 

 caviare is prepared. This is principally consumed in Russia, Germany, Italy, and 

 by the Greeks during their long fasts : but lately the consumption has much in- 

 creased in England ; that made by the Cossacks of the Oural is usually preferred. 

 The belugas also afford a considerable portion of oil, and the whole fish yields a 

 considerable revenue to Russia. About seven poods and a-half of Isinglass are ob- 

 tained from 1,000 fish. The roe, or caviare, of 1,000 fish weighs 100 pood, or 4,000 

 pounds. This species, according to Dr. Martius, yields Leaf Isinglass of three 

 qualities — fine firsts, firsts, and seconds. 



The Osseter (A. Guldenstadtii, Br. and R. tab. iii. fig. 2). This species is wide- 

 ly diffused, being found in the Black and Caspian Seas and the rivers which flow 

 into them, as well as in their tributaries ; also in Lake Baikal. It yields about 

 one-fourth of all the Caviare and Isinglass of commerce. The caviare is one of 

 the best kinds, and is preferred to that of the belugas. It is probably this species 

 which is called the Sturgeon in the above situations. One thousand, produce two 

 poods and a half of the best Isinglass, and the same number of fish not more than 

 60 poods of caviare or roe. Both staple and leaf Isinglass are yielded by this 

 species. The varieties of the former are Patriarch, Astrachan, and Astrachan 

 firsts, seconds, and thirds, also leaf and book at Sallian (Martius). 



The Sterlet (A. Ruthenus) — Br. and R. tab. ii. fig. 2, — is also very generally 

 diffused, being found in the Caspian and Black Seas, as well as in the Arctic 

 Ocean, in many of the rivers which flow into them, and also in the tributaries; 

 likewise in Lake Baikal. It was transferred by Frederick the Great to the Lakes 

 of Pomerania and by Frederick the First of Sweden into the Malar and Hamarby 

 Lakes. Its flesh is prized. It yields the best Isinglass, especially for inlaid 

 works. In commercial language, leaf and book (first and second) . also staple 

 Isinglass are yielded by this species, and its roe yields caviare. 



The Sevruga or Sewrjugha, Starred Sturgeon (A. stellatus, Pallas) — Br. and 

 R tab. iii. fig. 3, — is a native of the Caspian and Black Seas and of their tributary 

 rivers, also of the Lake of Aral. One thousand sevrugas produce one pood and a 

 quarter of superior Leaf Isinglass, and sixty poods of the best caviare. 



