Alexander. — More About the Paddle-Fish 35 



period stood at 60° Fahr. On the 9th it dropped to 50° 

 and remained at this temperature until the 13th, when 

 it slowly began rising. From the 14th to the 31st, in- 

 clusive, it ranged mostly between 58° and 62° Fahr. 

 This excessive cold had the effect of retarding the spawn- 

 ing season at least two weeks beyond that of a normal 

 season. 



Our first day's fishing this year, March 6th, resulted 

 in the capture of a considerable number of this species. 

 Among these were eight females containing eggs, and 

 three unripe males, but no spent females or males. One 

 of the females contained mature eggs which were seen 

 to be running from its vent when this fish was lifted 

 from the seine into the boat, and as it flapped about in 

 the boat before it could be transferred to the live car. 

 This was witnessed by Capt. Fred Portie of Grand 

 Chenier, La., who lifted the fish from the seine, Mr. 

 Ernest Barbe of Lake Charles, La., and Mr. E. A. Tulian 

 of our Commission. Two of the males would have ma- 

 tured within the next few days, and one of these was 

 killed and cut open with the hope of obtaining sufficient 

 mature milt with which to fertilize the ripe eggs, or a 

 portion of them at least. However, the milt was found 

 not to be sufficiently advanced for this purpose. The 

 matured female and two others with eggs, as well as two 

 immature males, together with several others were later 

 tranferred to an enclosure for further observations. 



Our second and third day's fishing was on the 9th and 

 10th. Among the day's catch two spent females, eleven 

 unripe females and three males not yet matured, were 

 found. Both the immature females and males were 

 transferred to our enclosure to be held. 



From March 1st to the 10th, inclusive, there was such 

 continuous heavy wind that our seine could only be 

 hauled on the three days mentioned above. After the 

 10th, for various reasons, no further seining operations 

 were attempted until the 22d. 



Fishing operations were resumed, however, on this 

 date, and among the catch of that day were found two 



