ORAL GESTATION IN THE GAFF-TOPSAIL CATFISH, 



FELICHTHYS FELIS. 



BY E. W. GUDGER. 



INTRODUCTION. 



In a previous paper (Gudger, 1916) I have given in some detail 

 the story of how I came to rediscover the habit of oral gestation in the 

 gaff-topsail catfish, Felichthys felis (plate i, figure 1). In order to give 

 the facts contained in this paper their proper setting, a brief resume 

 of the data contained in the previous article will here be set forth. 



NARRATIVE. 



In the summer of 1906, while at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, 

 Mr. N. F. Jennett, who operated a pound-net fishery in Pamlico 

 Sound at that place, told me that in looking over the catch of his 

 net on the previous day he had found a number of flat-whiskered 

 ocean catfish, and that in handling these he had found in his hands a 

 number of young. However, he was unable to say whether these 

 had come from the mouth or the vent. At that time I was working 

 in the Beaufort Station of the United States Bureau of Fisheries 

 engaged in research on the embryology and breeding habits of fishes, 

 so on my return I at once began to look up the literature as to 

 habits of catfishes. I found that while there was a considerable 

 literature on oral gestation in catfishes, certain rather definite con- 

 clusions were held that the smaller ocean catfish (Galeichthys milberti), 

 also found at Beaufort and well known to me, is ovo-viviparous. 

 Further, dissection of female gaff-topsails showed that the hinder part 

 of each ovary, and especially the duct leading therefrom, was laid in 

 plicated folds highly vascularized, in which it seemed possible for eggs 

 to be held and nourished until hatched. However, on talking the 

 matter over with a number of well-informed fishermen of Beaufort, I 

 found that it was well known that the gaff-topsail carries in its mouth 

 its eggs and even the larvae after hatching. One man put it that he 

 "had seen the sea-cat spit its eggs out of its mouth." Unfortunately 

 the breeding season was past and it was impossible to investigate 

 these conflicting reports by study of the fish ; so it was necessary to 

 let the matter stand over until the next summer. 



At the beginning of the season at Beaufort in 1907, difficulties 

 were had in collecting early material and in finishing my observations 

 on the breeding habits and embryology of another fish; hence it was 

 not until June 22 that it was found possible to make a trip for catfish. 

 In the Narrows of Newport River, at Rockfish Rock hauling-ground, 



27 



