Distribution of Fishes 4 9 



prehensive. However, in the French Broad and in the Nolichucky rivers, we sam- 

 pled 12 sites in 1991 and 2 in 1994 only by seine (3.05 m x 1.2 m, 0.64 cm mesh), 

 and we sampled 2 sites in the former river in 1994 only by a 25 m, 14 cm 

 stretched mesh monofilament gill net and a 50 m, 5.1 cm stretched mesh 

 monofilament gill net. The nets were deployed overnight and fished on consec- 

 utive days for a total of six net days. In the Dan River in 1992 and in 1994, we 

 sampled two sites in each year only by seine (size as above). At five sites in the 

 North and South Toe rivers, in addition to sampling with electroshocker and 

 seine, we also surveyed fishes underwater by snorkeling. In all sampling efforts, 

 the known preferred habitat for each species was sampled most intensively. 



In addition to the fishes taken, data on stream depth, width, and sub- 

 strate type; current; air and water temperatures; pH; and dissolved oxygen con- 

 centration were often recorded at a site, and we include these data when avail- 

 able. Fishes were preserved in 10% formalin upon capture for subsequent exam- 

 ination. Fish measurements when available are given; TL is total length and SL 

 is standard length. We deposited preserved specimens in the North Carolina 

 State Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. Scientific and common names of 

 fishes used herein follow Mayden et al. (1992), except for Cyprinella monacha 

 which follows Jenkins and Burkhead (1994). 



We include figures that show all of our known fish capture localities in 

 North Carolina. In our species accounts we occasionally include records of fish- 

 es taken in portions of adjacent states in an effort to make the accounts more 

 accurate and complete. 



Positive results are gratifying, but, as usual, negative results are not nec- 

 essarily conclusive. When fish populations in rivers and large creeks decrease 

 strongly, it becomes virtually impossible to differentiate between occurrence at a 

 low level and extirpation (Etnier 1994). 



RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 

 TENNESSEE RIVER DRAINAGE 

 ENDANGERED SPECIES 



Paddlefish, Polyodon spathula (Walbaum) 



The paddlefish once occurred throughout the Mississippi River and its 

 larger tributaries, but its distribution has decreased coincidental with river chan- 

 nelization, damming, and overfishing (Burr 1980). Cope (1870) maintained that 

 it migrated up the French Broad River as far as Asheville in Buncombe County, 

 North Carolina. Fishermen in this state reported that it had been caught in the 

 lower reaches of the French Broad River as recently as 1983, but none of these 

 reports has been substantiated by specimens (E. Menhinick, personal communi- 

 cation, 1994). We sampled with large-mesh gill nets in the French Broad River 

 downriver of Hot Springs and in the river at the mouth of Big Laurel Creek, both 

 Madison County, North Carolina, on 14 and 15 May and 15 and 16 August, 1994, 



