STURGEON, Aceipenser, a Liniarean genus of cartilaginous fishes, now forming the family sturionidce, and placed by Muller in the order of ganoids, distinguished by the ganoid (q.v.) scales or bony shields Which form the external covering. The gills are free, as in the osseous Niles. The vertebral column is soft; and there are no evident sutures in the skull. Reproduction is by roe, as in osseous fishes. The form of sturgeons is elongated and angular; the plates arc arranged in regular rows; the head is cuirassed; the snout long and conical; the mouth is on the under surface of the head, tubular, pro tractile, and without teeth. The upper lobe of the tail is much larger than the under. The dorsal and anal fins are opposite to one another, behind tile ventrals. The air bladder is very large, and communicates with the gullet by a large hole. The species of sturgeon are numerous, and inhabit both the sea and fresh water, ascending deep muddy rivers at certain seasons, and temporarily inhabiting lakes. Numerous species are found in the northern parts of the world, although there are none in the Arctic ocean, or the rivers which flow tato it, but the s. of Siberia and North America particu larly abound in them. They are plentiful in the Caspian and Black seas, and in the rivers connected with them, where the sturgeon fishery is of great importance, supplying the inhabitants of large districts with their chief article of subsistence, and producing great quantities of caviare (q.v.), or preserved sturgeon roe, and of isinglass (see GELA TINE), for sale. The COMMON STURGEON (A. stork) is sometimes caught in the mouths of British rivers, most frequently in salmon-nets; and is a large fish, 6 or 8 ft. in length,
with five rows of flattened plates; the muzzle long and pointed. Another species (A. latirostris), with broader muzzle, also visits the British coasts, but they are not popularly distinguished. The sturgeon is more abundant on the northern coast of Europe. It is also found in the more southern parts, and was in very high repute for the table among the Greeks and Romans. At their banquets it was introduced with particular ceremonies. In England, when caught in the Thames, within the jurisdiction of the lord mayor of London, it is a royal fish, reserved for the sovereign. Its flesh is white, : delicate, and firm. It is used both fresh, generally stewed, and pickled or salted.—The largest species of sturgeon is the BrELAGA, or Huse (A. huso) of the Black and Caspian seas, and their rivers. It attains the length of 20 or 25 ft., and has been known to weigh nearly 3,000 lbs. It enters the rivers in winter, while they arc still covered with ice. Great part of the caviare of commerce is made-from it, and much isinglass, which is merely the air-bladder washed, cut into strips and dried. The STERLET (A. Rutitenus) is a comparatively small species, only about 3 ft. in length, found in the same regions, and particularly esteemed for the delicacy of its flesh, and of the caviare obtained from it. There are several other European and Asiatic species; and some of the North American rivers and lakes abound at certain seasons in species of sturgeon which are peculiar to them.—Sturgeons spawn in fresh water, but the young are seldom seen there, and are supposed to descend very early to the sea.