STERLET. 



colour is dusky above, whitish, and variegated with 

 rose coloured spots beneath : the rows of tubercles 

 are of a yellow cast, and the whole skin is slightly 

 roughened into a kind of scaly appearance : the 

 ventral and anal fins are of a deep rose-colour : the 

 rest blueish-brown : the usual number of shields or 

 tubercles is, according to Dr. Bloch, fourteen along 

 the back, and fifty-nine along each side. 



The Sterlet is in much higher esteem as an article 

 of food than any other species, and is even con- 

 sidered as one of the most delicate of fishes. Sterlet- 

 soup, it is well known, formed one of the favourite 

 luxuries of that gigantic epicure Prince Potemkin 

 of Russia, who in seasons when the fish happened 

 to be unusually dear, was content to purchase it at 

 a price so extravagant, that a single tureen, form- 

 ing the mere prelude to his repast, stood him in 

 the sum of three hundred rubles I 



The Sterlet indeed in Russia makes its appear- 

 ance chiefly at the entertainments of the higher 

 nobility, and the Caviar prepared from its roe is 

 said to be confined almost exclusively to the use 

 of the royal table. 



Like the rest of this genus it is a prolific fish, 

 and usually spawns in the months of May and 

 June : it is said to live on worms and small fishes, 

 and is particularly fond of the roe of the common 

 Sturgeon, for which reason it often follows that 

 species in its migrations. 



