New-York tribune., 1908-10-11

IS THE 8UERIC4N STURGEON DOOHEDf
II looks as if the fate n which the American
bison has already su"cunbed practical cXter-
mnation-is in store for the American sturgeon
Half a century ago the fish was exceedingly
abundant and was regarded only a curiosity
or nuisance. II was not deemed fit for food
and had an unpleasant habit of destroying nets
set for shad In time the discovery made
that its flesh. if not particularly psatable. was
al least edible and the value Of its roe for the
manufacture Of caviare was also recognized in
this country. OF late years the sturgeon has
been caught mainly for the second Of these
uses. and so energetically has the business been
conducted that the annual catch is now rapidly
diminishing. According TO DR.. Walter Sheldon
Tower who discusses the matter in 'The Popu-
lar Science Monthly" for October il ranged bc-
tween 1I.oG0.G0o and 100000 pounds from
1880 to 1891 but fell off to about 3,OnNoC0
pounds in 1904 The most conspicuous change
was observed in the production of the Great
Lakes In 1880 il exceeded 100000 pounds
and in 1904 was less than 5000 Though the
decrease in such coastal regions as Delaware
Bay has not shown the same abruptness it has
been in progress for several years.
Reasonably successful efforts have been made
to maintain by artificial propa cation the supply
of several Of the most highly priced species Of
fish and thus partially to offset the havoc Of
excessive industry. The whitefish Of the Great
Lakes the slad and salmon, which come in
from the ocean TO spawn, and finally, the lob
stcr. have proved amcnabe 70 this sort of treat
ment. Experiments with the sturgeon, though
have hccu much less fortunate At present they
give little or no promise The protection of law
has also been sought and several of the states
have made it crime to catch sturgeon the
length or the weight Of which was within a
prescribed limit. Unfortunately, such enact
ments have had scarcely any arpreciabe effect,
and Or. Tower believes that they cannot easily
be enforced The remedy which he would apply
is complete suspension Of the sturgeon fishery
for several years. Concert Of action by Il dozen
or more states would he essential If any good
was 10 be accomplished, and the passage of
existing laws, unsatisfactory as they are is said
to have been strongly opposed by the short
sighted fishermen whose interests were involved.
Still, the choice now seems to lie between real
abstinence from the capture Of the sturgeon for
two or three years or the disappearance OF the
fish altogether from American waters
The latter alternative is certainly to be depre-
Gated for more reasons than one The meat OF
the sturgeon furnishes cheap food for thousands
OF the poor. and If caviarc were obtainabIe ONLY
from EUrCIc IT'S price would put II beyord the
reach of many WHO indulge In the dc licacy
This would also Eic2n he destruction Of a con
s.derable American Industry. If the roe of some
other fish could be utilized for cayiare the loss
OF the sturgeon could be anticipated with great
er complacency. but apparently. no substitute
is available. To find FISH the weight of whose
eggs Is at all comparable with the surgeons
which Itself grows 10 ths same siss, and which