STURGEON-FISHING AT HYDE PARK

Object/Artifact

Historic Hudson Valley

Name/Title

Entry/Object ID

L.2012.200

Description

This dramatic scene of fisherman fighting a massive Atlantic sturgeon represents the importance of this fish to commercial fishing interests along the Hudson in the 19th century. Plentiful supplies of the large fish lead to new industries along the banks of the river by the 1870s. In the same decade this illustration appeared in Frank Leslie's Illustrated News, roe processing facilities opened at Hyde Park to meet new demand for American caviar. Smoked sturgeon meat was known as "Albany beef" as early as the 1770s when Revolutionary War soldiers described its ubiquity on the dining tables of that city. Large and powerful, a fully mature sturgeon could put up a fight, which made sturgeon fishing one of the more dangerous ways to make a living on the Hudson. Engraving of fisherman trying to haul large fish into boat; scow at center with three fisherman; large fish wrapped in nets and rope at center left; two fisherman pull rope and fish toward boat; third figure off-kilter on top of netting as weight of fish rocks boat; hills along riverbank in distance; at bottom center, printed: "NEW YORK.--AMERICAN INDUSTRIES--STURGEON-FISHING AT HYDE PARK, ON THE HUDSON--HAULING A STURGEON BY A NOOSE FROM THE NET INTO THE SCOW.--FROM SKETCHES BY OUR SPECIAL ARTIST.--SE PAGE 370."; at right side, printed, from top: "372", "FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED NEWSPAPER.", "[AUGUST 3, 1878."

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

Unknown

Attribution

Artist

Manufacturer

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

Date made

Aug 3, 1878

Other Names

Name Type

Other Title

Other Name

NEW YORK.--AMERICAN INDUSTRIES--STURGEON-FISHING AT HYDE PARK, ON THE HUDSON--HAULING A STURGEON BY A NOOSE FROM THE NET INTO THE SCOW.

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall

Height

10-3/4 in

Width

16-1/16 in

Dimension Notes

Display Dimensions: 10 3/4 x 16 1/16 in. (27.3 x 40.8 cm)

Material

Paper, ink

Condition

Notes

Remarks: Paper is yellowed; brown at edges; vertical crease through center of paper; brown stain at upper right; grey smudge at center of left edge; minor losses at top corners; diagonal crease at top left corner; verso: tape at top right and top left.

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

William Diebold

Notes

Former owner

General Notes

Note Type

Curatorial Remarks

Note

This object was accessioned in 2012, but it was acquired earlier [Jessa J. Krick, 4/12/2012].

Note Type

General Note

Note

The military journal of James Thatcher during the Revolutionary War has this entry: July 2lst 1779: "The officers of our regiment invited a select number of officers of the Pennsylvania line to dine on sturgeon, a large fish which Major Meriweather caught in the North river. This fish is a favorite with the Dutch, at Albany, and is on that account by some called Albany beef; but in my view it is worse than horse beef, and it was merely an auxiliary at our table."

Note Type

StorageNote

Note

Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Administrative Office, Archive Room, Shelf O3, B8

Note Type

Department

Note

Library