ADULT PADDLEFISH

"There is still so much to learn about our nation's rivers; about the ancient survivors who have inhabited these waters long before dinosaurs roamed the earth - prehistoric relics cloaked in the secrets of an enigmatic past. We marvel at the sheer thought of their existence, and wonder at the possibility there may be more."

©1993 Betty Wills

ALEX CORD

Well known for his roles on the TV series, "Air Wolf", and "Police Story", Alex Cord is a talented actor of stage and screen. He was nominated for the Best Actor Award by the London Critics, and has starred in 25 feature films, and over 300 television shows.

During the Iranian crisis of the 1980s, paddlefish eggs became the likely substitute for the prized sturgeon caviar from the Caspian Sea. As a result, poachers raided the rivers, decimating paddlefish populations throughout the Mississippi River drainage. This documentary tells about the undercover sting operation in Missouri, and provides valuable information about the history, biology, and current status of paddlefish populations in the U.S. 

Also included is rare underwater footage of paddlefish in the wild, a c-section surgery on a spawning female, and hatchery rearing techniques. Interviews include Kim Graham, aka "Mr. Paddlefish", a fisheries research biologist with the Missouri Department Of Conservation, as well as other renowned fisheries biologists with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the University Of Idaho, Clemson University, and the state game and fish agencies of Arkansas, Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.

"THE BUST"

Special Agents with the U.S. Dept Of The Interior and local law enforcement officials in Missouri arrested poachers on the spot after an extensive undercover operation. Offenders were subsequently convicted, fined and sentenced to time in a federal penetary.

"PADDLEFISH SNAGGING"

Snagging is a popular sport where paddlefish populations are healthy, such as in Montana and North Dakota, and in states where they are stocked, such as in South Dakota and Missouri.

"LARVAL PADDLEFISH"

Larval paddlefish live off their yolk sack for the first few days of life, and must find food quickly if they are to survive. The river current carries them into nutrient rich oxbows and backwater areas which are essential to their early development.