[107] FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 493 



Subgenus Atractosteus Kafinesque. 



166. Ijitholepis spatula (Lac). Alligator Gar. 



Eivers of the Southern United States; Cuba; Mexico 



and Central America. 

 The species is reported to reach 12 feet in length ; it is 



said to be an implacable foe of the alligator. 



32311. Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1882. O. P. Hay. 



POLYODONTID^E. 

 Genus POLYODO!s T Lacepede, 



167. Polyodon spathula (Walb.) Jor. & Gilb. Paddle-fish; 



Spoon-bill. Cat; Duck-bill Cat; Spoon-billed 

 Sturg-eon. 



Ohio and Mississippi Valleys, generally abundant. 

 This singular fish grows to a length of 6 feet; its food 



consists of minute Crustacea which it strains from the 



« 



mud passed through its gill-rakers (Forbes). 

 32387. (2 spec) Illinois River, Illinois, 1882. Win. McAdams. 



ACIPENSERID^E. 



Genus ACIPENSER Limie. 



168. Acipenser rubicundus Le Sueur. Lake Sturgeon; 



Ohio Sturgeon ; Black Sturgeon ; Stone Stur- 

 geon; Rook Sturgeon; Red Sturgeon. 



Mississippi Valley; Great Lakes, and northward, usu- 

 ally not descending to the sea (Jordan & Gilbert). 



This species is an important food- fish ; it reaches a 

 length of 6 feet and a weight of 100 pounds. 



3270. Michipicotan, Lake Superior. G. Barnston. 



Genus SCAPHIRHYNCHOPS Gill. 



169. Scaphirhyiichops platyrhynchiis (Raf.) Gill. Shov- 



el-nosed Sturgeon ; White Sturgeon. 



Ohio and Mississippi Valleys, westward to Montana 



and southward to Texas. 

 This species reaches a length of 5 feet. 



3255. Cincinnati, Ohio. Prof. S 7 F. Baird. 



