A fish wheel is a device for catching fish which operates much as a water-powered mill wheel. A wheel complete with baskets and paddles is situated on the river, usually upon a floating dock. The wheel rotates due to the current of the stream pressing the bottom basket or paddle that has swung down into the water. The baskets on the wheel, swinging downstream only at the speed of the current or more slowly, capture fish actively swimming upstream and also can capture fish simply drifting.