The Paddlefish 



inches in length, and individuals so small as that are but rarely 

 seen. Specimens under a foot in length are very greatly desired 

 by naturalists. 



The little that is known regarding the spawning time or place 

 of this fish indicates that, in the lower Mississippi Valley, the 

 spawning season is during March and April, while in the Ohio and 

 northward it is during the latter part of May and June. Among a 

 large number of fish examined at Louisville, Kentucky, during the 

 third week in May, only a few were fully ripe. At that time the 

 fish were running up stream, swimming near the surface, and 

 evidently seeking their spawning grounds, which are thought to be 

 in the ponds and bayous along the river. At this time they are 

 caught in seines lightly leaded so as to fish the surface. At other 

 seasons the paddle-fish may be caught on set-lines. 



Not until quite recently has this fish been regarded as possess- 

 ing any food value. True, the negroes of the South have long 

 held it in high esteem along with the channel cat and the goujon, 

 but it is only within the last four or five years that it has had a 

 market value. It now finds a ready sale in the markets and at a 

 fair price. Its flesh is firm, like that of the sturgeon, which it 

 resembles also in flavor. Indeed, in some places the meat of the 

 paddle-fish is smoked and sold as sturgeon. 



But the paddle-fish is valued chiefly, not for its flesh, but for 

 the roe, which is made into caviar. The eggs are greenish-black 

 in color, about three times the size of shad eggs, and very num- 

 erous. They bring a high price and are said to make a good 

 quality of caviar. 



The principal centres at which this industry is now carried on 

 are along the Mississippi River in Mississippi and Tennessee, at 

 Louisville, Kentucky and at Lake Pepin. 



Head, with opercular flap, more than half length of body; head, 

 without flap, i length of body; spatula ^ to ^ total length, longest 

 in the young. Dorsal fin with 50 to 60 rays; anal 50 to 65; 

 ventral 45. Opercular flap very long and pointed, nearly reaching 

 the ventrals; premaxillary extending to beyond the small eye; gill- 

 rakers very numerous and very slender; paddle broad; caudal fulcra 

 13 to 20, of moderate size; skin mostly quite smooth, a few small 

 rhombic plates on the tail; ventrals near middle of body, the dorsal 

 fin well behind them; anal larger than dorsal and more posterior, 

 both somewhat falcate; fin-rays slender; a minute barbel at each 

 spiracle; isthmus papillose in the young. Colour nearly uniform 

 pale olivaceous or leaden-gray. 



