THE SPOONBILL FISHERY OF THE LOWER 

 MISSISSIPPI* 



By Louis Hussakof 



The spoonbill is one of the most singular fishes found in 

 American waters. It is often called paddlefish, in allusion 

 to its extraordinary, long, paddle-shaped jaw. It is a large 

 fish, often reaching a length of six feet and a weight of 

 160 pounds; and it is found nowheres else but in the lakes 

 and rivers of central United States, ranging as far north 

 as the Great Lakes. 



From the name spoonbill cat, by which it is often known, 

 one might think it a catfish ; however, it is not a catfish. It 

 is a ganoid, or a member of that ancient group of fishes 

 which includes the sturgeon and a few related forms. The 

 nearest living ally of the spoonbill is the Psephurus, which 

 curiously, is found only in certain rivers of China. The 

 paddlefish (Polyodon) and Psephurus constitute the family 

 Polyodontidse. 



The paddlefish reaches its largest size and occurs in 

 greatest abundance in the lakes connected with the lower 

 Mississippi ; and it was to one of these lakes — Moon Lake, 

 Coahoma County, Mississippi — that Mr. Dwight Franklin, 

 an artist-taxidermist, and the writer, went in quest of 

 material for the preparation of an exhibition group of 

 Polyodon in the American Museum of Natural History. 

 Thanks to the many facilities extended to us by Mr. I. E. 

 McGehee who carries on an extensive spoonbill fishery at 

 Moon Lake, we succeeded beyond expectation. Mr. 

 McGehee placed at our disposal his fishing paraphernalia 

 and gave us every assistance possible in gathering Polyodon 

 and the other ganoids found in Moon Lake. 



Until about a decade ago the spoonbill was of little eco- 



* Illustrated by lantern slides. 



