November 16, 1803
[Lewis]
ca. November 15, 1803, Field Notes, document 3
Passed the Missippi this day and went down on the other side after landing at the upper habitation on the oposite side. [1] we found here som Shawnees and Delewars incamped; [2] one of the Shawnees a respectable looking Indian offered me three beverskins for my dog with which he appeared much pleased, the dog was of the newfoundland breed one that I prised much for his docility and qualifications generally for my journey and of course there was no bargan, I had given 20$ for this dogg myself— Capt Clark and myself passed own [down or over] to the lowist point in view on this the W. [written over N] side of the river from the point of junction of the rivers— [3] found below it a sand bar, and a willow point forming which in low water will prevent any vessels coming too within two or three hundred yards of the main sore or bank, tho' this is the place at which a fort must be erected if one is built on that side of the mississippi within many miles of the mouth of Ohio, from this place to the uper habitation (or the point which we maid from our place of observation in measuring the river) was 28 hundred and 50 yards; from the place of observation this place bore [4] On our return which was at 5 m after 1 Oclock we were a little surprised at the apparent size of a Catfish [5] which the men had caught in our absence altho we had been previously accustomed to see those of from thirty to sixty pounds weight we ditermined to asscertain the weight of this fish after taking the following dementions of it—
| F | Inches | |
| Length— | 4 | 3 ¼ |
| width betwen the eyes— | 1 | 1 |
| Circumpherence arond the head just above the first fins and lower extremity of the gills being the large part of the fish— |
3 | 9 |
| The dementions of the mouth when opened to the ordinary, or easy practicable width was From the center of the lower to the upper jaw— |
0 | 8 |
| Width from side to side— | 0 | 10 |
| Weight— | ||
| Head— | 44 | |
| Enterals [entrails]—very emty— | 14 | |
| other parts of the carcase | 65 | |
| The loss of blood, its lying out of the water six hours in the sun, & the waistage from the circumstance of being obliged to weigh it in small draughts not having any method of weighing entire may be estimated at, at least |
—5 | |
| Total weight— | 128 |
I have been informed that these fish have been taken in various parts of the Ohio & mississippi weighing from 175 to 200 lbs. weight which from the evidince of the suject above mentioned I have no doubt is authentic—
saw a heath hen or grows [6] which flew of[f] and having no gun with me did not persue it—
