THE SUN-PERCH AND THE CATFISH 



The sun-perch, above all others, vacillates with these 

 contrary impulses. 



" What about its rival, the North American catfish, 1 

 which is even stronger and more robust ? Of it we can 

 say that it knows no obstacles, and that in its efforts 

 towards expansion, it has never met with defeat. Its 

 appearance is not exactly attractive; but, on the other 

 hand, it has a strength, adaptability and capacity for 

 survival which overcome all obstacles. 



"What made them bring us that particular fish? 

 In central and eastern Europe we had already a repre- 

 sentative of the family of Silurides, one of the giants of 

 the family, 2 the wels, and there was no particular reason 

 to acclimatize one of its small members. It has neither 

 grace nor beauty, for its body is slimy, its large flat head 

 provided with barbs that look like a cat's whiskers, and 

 its colouring bottle-green or yellowish-grey. If it made 

 up for these inelegancies by the quality of its flesh, we 

 might forgive it, but it does not. Its head is too big 

 and its body too small, and this means that there is very 

 little that can be eaten. And even what is available has 

 no especially attractive qualities. You can imagine 

 the disgust, the disappointment, and the grumblings of 

 those whose streams and ponds were gradually invaded 

 by it. And complaints were all the louder because the 

 creature, being poisonous, is dangerous to handle. 

 On its dorsal fin, and especially on its pectorals, it has 

 strong, pointed spurs, which may deliver a painful 

 wound which takes a long time to heal. 



" It was all to no purpose. The species likes temper- 

 ate waters, quiet waters over a muddy bottom. There 

 are plenty of these in our country, and it is gradually 

 taking possession of them, all of them. Like a cat- 

 burglar, it seems to find its way anywhere. It holds 

 its own and progresses at one and the same time, in 

 places where any other fish would decline and disappear. 

 It is the equal of the eel in this respect, and that is saying 



1 Amiurus nebulosus. 2 Silurus giants, Linnaeus. 



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