BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 77 



E. — Migrations and movements. 



25. xVre these fish anadromous; that is, do they run up from the sea 

 iuto fresh water for any purpose? And if so, for what? — A. I don't 

 think the catfish is anadromous. 



30. What are the favorite localities of this fish? Say whether in still 

 water or currents, shallow or deep water, on the sand, in grass, about 

 rocks, &c. — A. Still, deep water, with mud bottom. 



31. What depth of water is preferred by these fish? — A. Three to 

 four feet appears to suit them very well. 



32. What the favorite temperature and general character of water"? — 

 A. Still, cloudy water, near the temperature of spring water, but 

 warmer. 



F. — Relationships. 



33. Do these fish go in schools after they have done spawning, or 

 throughout the year, or are they scattered and solitary? — A. Before 

 spawning they go in schools; after spawning the large ones scatter. 



34. Have they any special friends or enemies ? — A. Enemies. Musk- 

 rats and snapping turtles take them from behind, and eat all but the 

 head and stingers; pike and bass take them head first and swallow the 

 whole fish. They live and thrive in. the midst of their enemies. In one 

 winter, in a single runway 10 feet wide and 100 yards long, 20 bushels 

 of marketable fish were taken ; and in the same winter we caught 75 

 snappers, weighing from 4 to 10 pounds, and 115 muskrats, within a 

 space of three-fourths of a mile immediately surrounding the runway. 



35. To what extent do they prey on other fish, and on what species? — 

 A. Never found another fish inside of a catfish. 



36. To what extent do they suffer from the attacks of other fish or 

 other animals ? — A. Less than any other fish, on account of their 

 stingers. 



G. — Food. 



•*->' 



37. What is the nature of their food ? — A. They appear to live on the 

 larvae of insects and on flies that fall into the water; they never jump 

 out of the water. 



H. — Reproduction. 



40. Is there any marked change in the shape or color of either sex 

 during the breeding season; or any peculiar development of, or on any 

 portion of the body, as the mouth, fins, scales, &c? — A. No change in 

 color, but softer. 



41. Are there any special or unusual habits during the spawning 

 season? — A. They burrow under the mud. 



43. At what age does the male begin to breed, and at what age the 

 female? — A. Two years. 



46. Where do these fish spawn, and when? — A. In shallow water; in 

 June. 



48. Is the water ever whitened or colored by the milt of the male? — 

 A. Just where the spawn is the water appears to be cloudy. 



