THE COMMON STURGEON. 
*34 
are taken during the fummer months in great abundance, 
and fold over all Europe at a very high price. The 
fhores in that vicinity are all divided into certain di- 
ftridls, and let as we do the falmon fifneries ; fome of 
them bring a rent of fix thouland guilders, or near three 
hundred pounds per annum *. 
In thefe large rivers they are fcmetimes found of two 
hundred pounds weight, and are taken in nets made of 
fmall cords. They are dull and fpiritlefs animals, making 
butfmall rehllance when entangled ; andasfoon astheyare 
brought out of the water, appear like a lifelefs lump. 
Their {left is every where in high eftimation ; it has the 
delicacy, whitenefs, and folidity of veal, and when roaft- 
ed, is reckoned one of the greatell niceties that can pro- 
voke the appetite of an epicure f. It is commonly pic- 
kled, and packed up in calks, when fent to foreign mar- 
kets : Of late, we have received a confiderable quantity 
of thefe fifh from North America , where they are caught 
in May, June, and July ; it is at that feafon that they arc 
feen leaping above the furface in the rivers, and falling 
again upon their fides, with a noife that is heard at the 
dillance of fome miles 
It is of the ova of the fturgeon that the Ruffians make 
the caviar, by taking out the membranes found among 
them, and drying them, after having been wafhed with vi- 
negar. The belt caviar is faid to be afforded by a fmall 
i’pecies called the fterlet, found in the Taik and Volga §• 
Icthyocolla or ilinglafs is made of the found of this as 
well as the other kinds of fturgeon j|. The ancients we rc 
acquainted 
* Brit. Zool. f Will. p. 540. 
$ Catefby Mat. Hift. of Carolina. 
§ Strablenberg’s Hift. of Ruffia.p. 337. 
j! Vide Phil. Tianf, Ivii. 354. 
