LAKE AND RIVER FISHERIES 



83 



the auxilliary water reservoirs, and the extensive bottom-land areas of 

 the lower Mississippi offer an enormous potential for the production of 

 fish^'^, the true extent of which is difficult to judge at this time. In excess 

 of 2 million acres of bottom-land, estimated conservatively to be capable 

 of yielding 400 pounds of fish per acre, can be called upon to produce 

 fish as needed. Principal species currently harvested in the ponds include 

 buffalo, carp, catfish, bait minnows, and some game fish. Few modern 

 harvesting and processing facilities for this fishery have developed, and 



\f- 



'^' 



Figure 6.2. Buffalofish seined from an Arkansas rice pond. 



the fish farmers have been handicapped by lack of technical information 

 and skills in all phases of the operation. Given sound management, how- 

 ever, this new fishery could reach a significant level in a short period of 

 time. 



Of interest also is the rapidly expanding flood-control reservoir system 

 on the Mississippi and its tributaries. Biological studies^ on such reser- 

 voirs have demonstrated the presence of huge resources of fish usable as 

 food or for ' industrial products. Development of this resource is yet 

 insignificant, although several of the states along the Missouri River 



