Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-25
4 MCNSTER FISH.
Fresh Water Specimen WcixI,inx
Light Hundred and FIFTY Pounds.


Light hundred and FIFTY Pounds.
From the Chicago Times Herald.
A fresh water fish that tips the scales at
so pounds would doubtless astonish such
an expert IN FISH lore as Old Isaac Walton
himself. Very few of his enthusiastic fol-
lowers who annually whip the streams and
lakes of the country have ever seen such a
monster 1t was caught by set lines in the
Columbia river, where men make bust
ness of securing these monsters. which APP
pear in the form of fish steaks on many
an eastern table, and also help to supply
the epicure with his favorte relish, caviare
The sturgeon fishing industry of the CO.
lumbia IS carried principally in the fall
and winter When the heavy runs of sal
mon are over and the various canneries
on the river have completed the seasons
pack, some of the fishermen turn their at
tention from that king of western fish to
the more plebeian sturgeon variety
which has little of the beauty and gamey
spirit of the salmon. The latter is a salt
water fish, which comes to the streams
tributary to the Pacific only at spawning
time, while the sturgeon is found in the
river at all seasons of the year.
As has been said, the sturgeon grows to
enormous Dimensions, but notwithsta nding
its size and strength it is of sluggish
temperament. The weight of the fish con-
sldered tit to ship ranges down to thirty
pounds.
The appearance of the sturgeon will not
entitle it to a position among the beauties
Of the finny tribe. 1t is dark in color and
mas three rows of sharp horny scales ex-
tending the entire length of its thick-skn-
ned body, probably for protective purposes.
The head IS very large, with a toothless
mouth located at the under side in a posi-
ton similar to that of the shark. It's habi-
tat is in the mud at the bottom of the
nrin nin p1 ref
matter.
The gear used in catching these monsters
bear little resemblance to the bent pin and
string of the small boy who would a-fishing
60, as rope quarter of an inch in diam
eter and huge hooks from eight to ten
inches long and almost as large around as
lead pencil are used. Set lines are en-
ployed, the hooks in some instances being
baited, but more frequently they are placed
bare in great numbers across the feeding
grounds of the fish, that an unwary
movement will bring a sturgeon in contact
with a sharp barb and in it's struggles to
tear out a first. often six eight more
will become deeply imbedded in it's flesh,
and the fish is held till the lines are taken
up at the appointed time.
The lines are from 200 to 800 feet long,
firmly anchored a both ends, and are sup
ported by floats, adjusted to keep them a
the proper distance from the bottom At
every foot hangs a short line, called a
"snoozle" by the fisherman which carries
the hook and it can thus be readily seen
what a deadly trap is laid for the unSus-
Decting fish.
The market for sturgeon is in the east,
New York consuming large quantities. Be
fore starting on it's long journey across the
continent it is frozen perfectly solid and
hence it arrives in as good condition as
that in which il started. The bladder is of
use, and the bone is highly priced by the
Chinese, who employ it in the prepare ton
of soup. one Of the strange dishes par
ticularly pleasing to the celestial palate.
By the alchemy of commerce, much of the
sturgeon appears in market as smoked
halibut.
The fishermen receive : cents per pound
for their catch from the shippers and
hence one large fish will bring them quite
a little sum, which will be Increased II by
chance it is female with roe. This is a
dark, oilylooking mass. composed of in
Vulnerable little giDbu,es, or eggs, and
when sailed ana prepared for the table con-
stitutes the delicacy known as caviare
One fish will yed from II to $50 pounds
of caviare, for which the fishermen receive
30 cents per pound.
Sturgeon fishing has been prosecuted so
industriously and the gear used has been
so effective that the Columbia, once the
home of innumerahlc sturgeon, has been
almost depopulated of this variety. Men
who few years ago frequently brought In
ton at a time must now work harder to
secure few hundred pounds. Salmon and
other fish are protected by state laws at
certain seasons. and unless The sturgeon
soon has the benefit of similar legislation
it will become extinct in these waters.