372 COMMON STURGEON. 



The Sturgeon is generally considered as a fish of 

 slow motion, and is observed to lie for a consider- 

 able time in the same situation : it even makes 

 but a very faint resistance when first taken, except 

 by sometimes striking with its tail ; having great 

 strength in that part : it is however sometimes seen 

 to swim with considerable rapidity and to spring 

 with great force out of the water at intervals. 

 During its residence in the sea it is supposed to 

 live principally on the smaller fishes, and particu- 

 larly on young Herrings, Mackrel, &c. and in rivers 

 on various kinds of worms, &c. It is rarely taken at 

 any great distance from shore, but frequents such 

 parts of the sea as are not remote from the aestuaries 

 of great rivers. Catesby informs us that in those 

 of North America Sturgeons appear in great 

 abundance in the months of May, June, and July, 

 occasionally springing out of the water to the 

 height of some yards, and falling on their sides 

 with a noise that may be heard to the distance of 

 some miles. In some of the rivers pf Virginia they 

 are so numerous that six hundred have been taken 

 in the space of two days, by merely putting down 

 a pole, with a strong hook at the end, and drawing 

 it up again on perceiving that it rubbed against a 

 fish*. According to Mr. Pennant and Dr. Bloch 

 great numbers are taken during summer in the 

 lakes Frischhaff and Curischaff near Pillau, in 

 large nets made of small cord : the -adjacent shores 

 are formed into districts, and farmed out to com-^ 



* Penn, Arct.Zool, append, p. lOQ. Burnabfs Trav. 8w. p. 15. 



