MORE ABOUT THE PADDLE-FISH 



(Polyodon spathula) 



By M. L. Alexander. 



President, Conservation Commission of Louisiana, New 



Orleans, La. 



Further experiments with this species, commonly 

 called "spoon-bill cat," were carried on in White Lake, 

 La., during March, 1915, by E. A. Tulian, Superintendent 

 of our Fisheries Department, in compliance with instruc- 

 tions issued by the Conservation Commission of Louisi- 

 ana. These studies were made more especially with a 

 view to obtaining more knowledge of the spawning sea- 

 son and habits of this fish ; and whether it could be safely 

 and successfully held in retaining ponds during this 

 season. 



Owing to various conditions over which the Commis- 

 sion had no control, we were obliged to make these studies 

 on rather a more limited and economical basis than we 

 had originally intended. Because of this, the work was 

 somewhat less thorough and efficient than it would other- 

 wise have been. At the same time, however, we consider 

 the information gained as being rather instructive and 

 valuable. Therefore I have decided to briefly outline this 

 work to you and trust that it may be found of some 

 little interest and use to the members of the American 

 Fisheries Society, and others interested in fish culture 

 and fisheries matters in general. 



During the latter part of February and fore part of 

 March of this year, the temperature of both weather and 

 water averaged very much colder throughout Louisiana 

 than was usual for this period. As a result the tempera- 

 ture of the water in White Lake did not exceed 62° Fahr. 

 until after April 1st. From the 5th to the 8th of March, 

 inclusive, the weather averaged somewhat warmer than 

 later in the month. The water temperature for this 



