Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-02-17
Ocean City Sturgeon Fishing

Messrs. Charles +. Brooke and James
ID. Anderson. State Fish Commissioners
have made their bi-annua report to the
Governor and Legislature. This report
contains the following article relating
to the sturgeon industry at Ocean City.
and remarks on the artificial propaga-
ton of this valuable fish:
Several years ago the artificial pro-
pagation of the sturgeon was ag,tated
in Maryland and especially on the
Eastern Shore The matter Of investi
cation was thoroughly looked into by
Mr.. Vincent, Fish Commissioner for
the Eastern Shore, and he decided. af-
ter making inquiry Of the sturgeon fish
ermen of the Delaware Bay and of the
men engaged in catching sturgeon in
Worcester County waters. that artificial
propagation was not practicable. In the
first place, it is next to impossible to
secure the mile and female fish at the
same time in just the right condition
for successful fertilization of the
eggs. and to obtain the eggs in the
right condition from live fish weigh
Ing from 100 to 500 pounds is an her
culean task one that we do not believe
has yet been accomplished
at is very desirable, however, that
investigation be made from time to
time, rs the sturgeon is the most val
liable fish. from a commercial stand
point, that we have in Maryland
waters. At Ocean City, during l90i-5.
it is estimated that five thousand Stur-
geon were captured. averaging in
weight from 100 to 800 lbs. each. and
netting one hundred thousand dollars
About twenty firms are engaged in
sturgeon fishing AT Ocean City. en-
ploying about two hundred men and
owning thousands of dollars worth Of
nets. boats, and other fishing apparatus
''Thc sturgeon is valuable chiefly for
the roe, which is separated picked and
tubbed at Ocean City. becoming the
caviar of commerce, a delicacy highly
esteemed by the people of Russia and
Germany. New York city is the mar
ket for caviar, and the meat of the
sturgeon is also shipped to that city. 1t
sells at 10 cents to IS cents per ID.
"A large sturgeon roe will net the
lucky fisherman $500. and such fish
will weigh from three To five hundred
pounds. Those weighing five hundred
are not common, however, the average
weight being about 100 pounds. Lam
bert c. Ayers caught one at Ocean City
last year that weighed five hundred
pounds. and the roe was worth hun
dred dollars.
twenty-five years ago sturgeon We're
plentiful in the Nanticoke. Choptank
and Susquehanna rivers. and number
used in the Wicomico and Pocomoke
river The fish had little value then
and the roe was thrown away as worth
less. Sturgeon now are almost Il
curiousity to our river fishermen be-
cause of their scarcity. Why this is SO
no one seems to be able TO tell
I'VE deplore the fact that our river
fishermen are not in position to enjoy
the revenues of a sturgeon klOndike.
Sturgeon are caught at Ocean City
in sink nets. and when nets are raised
the fishermen stand by with Ratchet in
hand to kill the fish before it is hauled
into the boat, as Il cargo Of live stur-
geon might upset the craft and send all
hands to the bottom.
"The sturgeon is migratory in habit.
spending much time in salt water in or
near the bays and running up the rivers
to brackish or fresh water at spawning
time. Mr.. Ayers is of the opinion that
the fish spawns in salt water rs freely
as in fresh.