Spawn of Snakehead?

Others were undaunted.

The Spalding guys, who will be juniors in the fall, took turns slogging into the muck in their waders, sifting the water with long-handled nets and getting on television.

Matt Voltz, 15; Mike Rutland, 16, and his twin brother, Steve; Vince Grey, 16; and Mitch Malone, 15, said their motives were "profit," "recognition" and maybe a little public service. "We're not really in it for the fish," said one.

"If the DNR's not going to take care of business, we'll get 'em out," Voltz joked.

Said Grey: "We'll conquer the snakehead. It doesn't matter how big it is, how tough it thinks it is. We'll destroy that snakehead."

But lethal endings seemed to be the last thing on the minds of a small group of biologists who fussed over the captive baby suspect yesterday afternoon at DNR headquarters in Annapolis.

They put the anchovy-size critter in its own aquarium complete with a green plastic alligator, blue octopus and colorful pebbles on the bottom.

When the fish's lips started turning pink, a sign of stress, one of the biologists brought out a little aerator to make its tank more comfortable.

"I want . . . a mouse pad with a picture of that little guy on it!" one biologist said as another photographed the creature in its tank.

Biologists expect that by today, the fish will be pickled or iced and en route to an expert in Florida for positive identification.