Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/506

472&#93; 47<l C A V than 450, 160 lbs.; but in 17 CO, pnjy 1000 lbs. ; and in 179% 151. 2-30 lbs. were shipped in Eng- lish ve?sds. — The exportation to Italy has also amounted to upwards of 400,000 lbs. during the last-men- tioned years, exclusive of about 120,000lbs. to other countries, and a still larger quantity through the ports of the Elack Sea, and that of Azov. We have purposely enlarged upon this subject, because we con- ceive that prolific fish, the stur- geon, or at least some of its species, might be advan bred, and propagated in British waters. But an undertaking of such incalculable national importance would claim the vigorous aid of government 5 and we doubt not that, in more peaceable times, this desirable ob- ject will not be considered as visi- onary or impracticable. At pre- sent, the annual value of the stur- geons caught in the waters of Astrakhan, and the Caspian sea, amounts to 1,760,405 Russian rubles; a great part of which is paid in British money, for the ar- ticles of i id ca iar. These fish proceed in the month, and a considerable way up the cur- rent of rivers, without the least apparent diminution of their num- bers. As the Persians eat no t-turgeon, the fisheriej of the lian are rented by Russians, who, during the spawning season, take 15,000 large fish in one day with the hook, at the weirs formed across the water ; nay, it is remark- . that if the fishermen be acci- dentally prevented from working but for a single day, the fish accu- mulate in such numbers at die weir, as to fill the whole channel, so that the uppermost appear with their backs above water, in a river C A V not less than twenty-eight English feet deep, and sixty fit boms wide* But tho«e injudicious fishermen, I • for caviar, and the air-bladders for ' glass, throw the body of the fish into the sea as useless. — See Manure. With. regard to the physical qualities of caviar, we shall only remark, that it is a nourishing food, and more easily digested than pickled salmon ; it somewhat re- sembles in taste, and nutritive pro- perty, the essence of anchovies ; though few persons, on first, trial relish its flavour. CAYENNE PEPPER, ope the most heating and stimulating spices with which we are ac- quainted. It is said to be the pro- duction! of a tree growing in South America: according to Guthrie, the geographer, in the vale of Arica , but more probably in die Island of Cayenne. This powerful spice, in a state cf powder, has lately become die com- panion of the table, arid is nine]) esteemed for its flavour, and the quality it is supposed to possess, of promoting the digestion of fish, and other articles of strong food. We are, however, of opinion, that such practice is net conducive to health, in general ; for, though Cayenne pepper, like high flavour- ed Indian soys, fnay occasionally assist digestion, we would prefer- ably advise those who stand in need of artificial stimulants, if they value their constitution, to abstain from dishes requiring a vigorous stomach, rather than resort to pre- carious and destructive means. Dr. Unzer mentions a prepara- tion of Cayenne pepper, called chl- quetaille, which is so powerful a caustic, that the smallest portion of it applied to die skin, burns more violently