Old news on National Geographic

**benny** · 10th Jan 2006, 02:14

Hi guys,

Was packing my National Geographic magazines and chance upon the May 2002 issue with "Catfish hunters - Guyana River Expedition" as one of their features! There was a URL at the end of the article and so I tried to see if it's still active and it is!!

I just love this picture!!!! Randy Olson is a great photographer!

Here are some pictures that did not appear in the article. I suppose it's a web exclusive.

Immersing Himself in His Work

Larry Page—lead scientist for an ichthyological research expedition to Guyana—goes to any length to find specimens. His study of Guyana’s fish, Page says, replicates a landmark survey of the same waters by American ichthyologist Carl Eigenmann in 1908. “In fact,” says Page, “some species have not been observed alive since Eigenmann’s collections.”

Hard Science

“It’s very difficult to catch fish in streams with large rocks and fast water,” says Larry Page. So he hired help. Raising a ruckus, local residents drive fish into the scientists’ nets. In calmer waters researchers go “hoggin’”—wading into the shallows, then sticking a hand into a log or other dark, wet place. “You pull out whatever is in there,” says Page, “and hopefully all your fingers as well.”

There more pictures and a short feature write up. You can read about it here. Field notes from the author and photographer are here. Read what Randy says about the candiru.

Anyone game to go on a South American Expedition? I'm serious!

Cheers,