Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 309 



been reported from Chautauqua Lake. The senior author has 

 taken it in the Missouri Basin as far west as Chamberlain, South 

 Dakota. At least one specimen has been taken in Lake Erie* ; 

 which it had probably reached through the Wabash and Erie Canal. 



The Paddlefish attains a considerable length, but as much of this 

 is taken up by the bill, it does not weigh heavy in proportion. 



Mr. George D. Shannon of Penns Grove, New Jersey, reports 

 one from Natchez, Mississippi, 7 feet in total length, which weighed 

 about 50 pounds dressed. A male example caught in White River 

 near Chamberlain, South Dakota, was 4 feet 5 inches long and 

 weighed 18 pounds. The average length of those now caught near 

 Natchez does not exceed 4 or 5 feet, and the weight (dressed), 30 

 or 40 pounds. A large number examined at Louisville, Kentucky, 

 in May, 1898, averaged very much smaller, though all were mature 

 fish. They varied in weight (dressed) from .5 to 15 pounds. 



Paddlefish (Polyodon spathitla) 



Some were quite small, not exceeding a foot in length, exclusive 

 of the bill and tail. The female is larger than the male. Mr. 

 Shannon gives the average length of the females taken at Natchez 

 as 5 feet 4 inches, and the weight 40 pounds, and of the males 4 

 feet average length and 30 pounds weight. The weight of the roe 

 is given by Mr. Shannon as 5 to 12 pounds, but not usually exceed- 

 ing the former figure. The weights given by Mr. Shannon seem 

 rather large for the lengths, and verifications are much to be de- 

 sired. 



The only record of the occurrence of this fish in Lake Maxin- 

 kuckee has been furnished by Mr. M. V. McGilliard of Indianap- 

 olis. In 1891 or 1892 he was present when a Paddlefish was 



* McCormick, Descriptive list of the fishes of Lorain County, Ohio, Laboratory Bull. No. 2, 

 Oberlin College, 9, 1892. 



