What is the life story of the paddlefish?
The paddlefish is an amazing fellow to behold just about the most unusual fish in our fresh water streams. In the past, lots of his relatives swam in many of our rivers. Nowadays, the paddlefish is hard to find. And so are the secrets of his life story. In Oklahoma, the Arkansas River and its streams have been tamed by dams and re¬servoirs and man made lakes. In the northeast corner of the state, the people expect a number of weird looking paddlefish to come swimming along the Neosho River in the early spring. The river flows southward, spreads out into Fort Gibson Reservoir and spills over Fort Gibson Dam on its way to join the Arkansas. This waterwaylpis one small part in the vast river system of the Mississippi Valley. It happens to be the place where experts have learned most of what we know about the paddlefish. Visiting fishermen are astounded when they happen to haul up a paddlefish. A big fellow may weigh 50 or 60 pounds. He may be over three feet long, but one foot of his leng
