COMMON STURGEON. 
loS 
The Sturgeon is sometimes taken of a size which must 
strike with wonder those who have only had an opportunity 
of seeing the usual inhabitants of our rivers, among which, 
tliis fish appears indeed a Triton among the Minnows. From 
eight to ten or eleven feet is the usual length, and the 
weight is to the full correspondent with the dimensions. In 
some rivers especially, as the Parret, and on the Welsh 
Channel near Swansea, large Sturgeons have shewn themselves 
at particular periods, as well as in the Wye and TJsk; and 
it is to be noticed that this has happened about the month 
of May, at wliich time they are ceasing to be caught in the 
Caspian and Russian rivers, tlie only time of ceasing to fish 
for them in the last-named countries being in summer. The 
largest example recorded as British is mentioned by Pennant, 
and weighed four hundred and sixty pounds. I possess a 
memorandum of another, which weighed three hundred and 
fifty pounds; but what are these in comparison to the enor- 
mous jicipenser huso, wliich has been seen of fifty-six feet in 
length. — (Historical and Geographical Description of the North 
and East Part of Europe and Asia, by J. P. Strathlenbcrg, 4to, 
1738.) He sjicaks from personal knowledge. 
Although the Sturgeon is a timid fish as compared witli 
the generality of the inhabitants of the sea, its great strength 
may render it capable of inflicting considerable injury on those 
who meddle with it incautiously, on its becoming entangled 
in their net. A blow from the tail would probably break the 
leg of a man. As a precaution therefore, the fishermen 
accustomed to the work endeavour to bring the fish sidewise 
to the land, with the net enclosing it, and the head lifted 
out of the water, in which position it ceases to offer any 
further resistance. A Sturgeon which was caught within my 
knowledge, was entirely helpless after it had discharged an 
observable quantity of air, although it then lay in a net at 
the depth of several fathoms. 
When at liberty it is the habit of this fish to seek its food 
by turning up the soft bottom of the river or sea with its 
sensitive and moveable snout; and the quickness of feeling in 
these parts, including the barbs hanging from them, enable it 
to discern and select whatever is appropriate to its appetite. 
Worms are probably a favourite food, but in a paragraph 
