[Illustration: STURGEON.]
The principal Fish belonging to this family are the different kinds of
Sturgeon and the strange Chimaera, concerning which so many weird tales
have been told.
Four species of Sturgeon are commonly known. The Caviare Sturgeon, the
Huso or Isinglass Fish, the Great Sturgeon and the Common Sturgeon. The
Caviare Sturgeon is the best known in this country, as well as in
European waters, and it is the most eagerly sought after by fishermen
because it is from the roe of this Fish that the noted delicacy called
caviare is made, which until recent years was confined principally to
Russia, but which is now well known and consumed on both continents.
What is known as the Isinglass Fish, besides supplying us with roe
similar to that of the Caviare Sturgeon, also furnishes a valuable
commodity known as isinglass.
The Common Sturgeon abounds in the North Sea and the Mediterranean. It
is usually about two yards to seven feet long, but has been known to
attain the length of ten or twelve feet.
It is remarkable for the number and form of the osseous plates or
scales, which cover the body like so many bucklers. It has no less than
twelve to fifteen of these rough bony plates, relieved by projections,
which are pointed in the young, and soften down with age. On each side
is a row of thirty to thirty-five of these triangular plates, separated
from each other by considerable intervals. The head is broad at the
base, gradually contracting towards the point, and terminating in a
conical nose. The mouth is large and considerably behind the extremity
of the nose, and its jaws, in place of teeth, are furnished with
cartilages. Between the mouth and the nose are four slender and very
elastic barbs, or wattles, like so many little worms. It is claimed that
these wattles attract small Fishes to the jaws of the animal, while it
conceals itself among the roots of aquatic plants.
In the sea the Sturgeon feeds on Herrings, Mackerel, Cod-fish and other
Fishes of moderate size. In the rivers it attacks the Salmon which
ascend them about the same time. Mingling with them, however, it seems a
giant. Its flesh is delicate, and in countries where they are caught in
quantities it is dried and preserved.
The Great Sturgeon, which sometimes exceeds a thousand pounds, is only
found in the rivers which flow into the Caspian and Black seas. The
Volga, the Don, and the Danube produce the largest species.