Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-08-23
The Sturgeon Fishery.

The sturgeon range from Georgia, in
winter, to st. John, N. B., in summer,
and are followed up throughout the sea-
son by men expert in their capture.
Large gill nets are used in this business.
each about two hundred fathoms long,
and with meshes foot in size. The
Delaware River is the principal field OF
operation. Sturgeon enter this stream
about the 22d of May, and in such i'm
mense numbers that nets about quar-
ter length have to be used, larger ones
being at that time unmanageable. Mr..
Blackson. an experienced fisherman,
tells me that he has seen them so abun-
dant that his net would sink with their
weight as soon as it was1thrown out.
The average !catch per net is from
twenty-five to thirty fish apiece, at each
cast. This lasts about two weeks.
The sturgeon move steadily up stream
toward the head of the river, and then
suddenly disappear about the 10th OF
June, after which they must be sought
elsewhere. How they get out of the river
without being caught is mystery.
All that the fishermen know about it
is, that one day they are busy catch
ing fish, and the next all their nets are
empty!
The boats used in this business are all
constructed on the same general plan;
about twenty-four feet keel. seven or
eight feet beam, capable of carrying
about thirty sturgeon apiece. a boat
load of big ones looks, oddly enough,
like a load of small logs!
The flesh of the sturgeon, as is well
known, is rather coarse and oily; and,
as much depends on its right prepare
ton for the table, we took some pains
to inquire how it is cooked by the wives
of the fishermen themselves, who ought
to know as well as anybody, seeing that
it constitutes a staple article of their
diet. From several methods recon-
we give the two that seem the
most promising:
The first method is to cut the flesh
into slices and parboil them to get rid
Of the supertluous oil, and then fry them
in thin batter.
The second method is to cut up the
meat into squares two inches thick,
which are to be thoroughly boiled, and
hen picked for two days in spiced vim
egar, after which they are ready for
Eating, and are considered excellent by
he fishermen.
The usual way of preparing sturgeon
or market, however, is by smoking
Strips an inch or two thick are put
through picking process. then hung
III hooks over Il slow fire of corn-cObs
,r sawdust of hard wood. After thus
for single night they are
'eady to be shipped to any part of the
country.
The preparation of caviare is an i'm
)ortant part of the business. While
his is not yet in as general use in this
country as in Russia and other parts of
europe, where it is SO highly esteemed
hat 10 repast is served without it, it is
coming into favor, especially in the
Western and Southern States. There
re two sorts OF caviare. the soft and the |
lard; the latter being worth about
vice rs much as the former. The
aluc of the best hard caviare, in the
south. early in the spring, is said to be
rom fifteen to twenty cents a pound.
In order to make the best article it is
ecessary to strip the roe from the stur-
con as soon as possible after the fish
as been caught. Before being dried it
5 rubbed through a coarse sieve to
reak the eggs apart and to free them
rom membranOus tissue. Next the roe
) thoroughly sailed, after which it
lands certain length of time. Then
. is emptied into fine sleeves, where it |
emains till it is SO dry as to roll like
hot. The finished caviare is packed
nto casks previously lined with napkin
men, each layer being sailed with fine
able salt. Each key holds about $50
ounds. With proper care the caviare
lay be kept for year or longer. For
ne trade it is often canned like fruit, in
'hich condition it will stand transport
alton to warm countries, and will keep
n indefinite length of time. 1t may be
aten as put up without further prepar-
ton, though it is thought to be i'm
roved in flavor by the addition of lit
e vinegar or lemon juice. Pressed
aware is favorite with Russian SOL
iers, who are said to take liberal sup
ly in their knapsacks whenever they
re going on long march. Improve
tents might be made, no doubt, in the
reparation of American caviare, and
he subject is worthy of receiving she
special attention of packers.-H G.
OUeY, in Scientific american.
Mrs. Jones' Mistake.
l..