 The DNR's live fish exhibit is one of the state fair's most popular attractions. Started in 1905, the state fair's first live fish exhibit using aquariums purchased from the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. This year's exhibit is expected to display about three dozen species of fish. It's like a giant aquarium. We put minnows in there so it kind of looks like maybe you see in a lake possibly. We wouldn't see this many species or this many fish but so it's like looking into a giant outdoor aquarium. It's basically what it is so it's people just love to look at fish in aquariums so here you go. Here you're going to see more than you're going to see in any other one probably. One of the most popular fish with fairgoers has been the paddle fish characterized by their long paddle like bill. Paddle fish are found in the St. Croix River and in the lower Mississippi River below Minneapolis. Paddle fish grow to be quite large with fish up to 200 pounds being recorded. The largest fish in the exhibit is the lake sturgeon which exceeds 50 inches. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.