THE STURGEON. 
*33 
determines the migrations of the fturgeon, as well 33 
thofe of other fifti. Daring the winter months they 
mount the rivers ; while in fummer, they betake them- 
selves to the ocean ; probably, however, never removing 
a t any great diftance from the Ihore * r 
Ihe Common Sturgeon f. 
■IvONLELETIUS, Gefner, and Aldrovandus, have tedious 
deputations, whether this animal be the acipenfer, or 
Slops of the ancients ; a matter of very little moment, 
hace, if the animal be accurately defcribed, and well 
known, it matters but little by what name it was an- 
c iently diftinguiilicd. 
The great refort of the fturgeons is the rivers of Rujfia 
ar >d Germany ; and as they are frequently found in the 
Mediterranean, at the mouths of the Italian rivers, it is 
highly probable that at lead fome fpecies of them were 
known to the Romans: Fliny, however, as well as Ovid , 
Mention the acipenfer as a foreign fith %. 
Ihe common fturgeon is an inhabitant of the Britijh 
^ eas > from which it afcends the rivers, and is fometimes 
ta ken in the nets fet for falmon : It is there, however, 
fou nd only in fmall numbers ; the greater part confumed 
1,1 ifland is brought either from North America, or 
he Baltic. In the lakes of Frifchehaff, and Currifchaff, 
atl d in the r i vers j n the neighbourhood of Pillau, they 
arc 
* W >llough. Ichthyol. 
, ^ Cl P en( er Sturio, Lin. Syfl. Acipenfer, Rcndelet. 
Lib, ix. cap. 1 7. et Ovidii Halleut. 
