AMERICAN CATFISHES. 11 



heard weighed 100 pounds. The hirgest seen by him was a ripe 

 female weighing 35 pounds. A spent female, 31 inches long, weighed 

 22 pounds and dressed 13 poimds. Another spent female, 30 inches 

 long, weighed 17 pounds. The goujon, Evermann says, rarely reaches 

 a weight of 100 pounds, but examples of 50 or 60 pounds weight are 

 said to be not unusual. The largest individual seen by him was a 

 ripe female 41 inches long and weighing 48 pounds. It dressed 27 

 pounds. One 38 inches long weighed 37 pounds and another 37 

 inches long weighed 36^ pounds. 



The eel cat {Ictalurus anguilla) was first discovered in Louisiana 

 by Evermann, but it was later found in the Ohio River at Louis- 

 ville, Ky. Evermann states that it rarely weighs over 5 pounds and 

 never over 8 pounds. 



Large so-called eel cats in Texas were identified by Evermann 

 as the blue cat (Ictalurus furcatus). More recently Forbes and 

 Richardson record the eel cat in Illinois, and report that H. L. Ash- 

 cock, of Alton, says that fishes of this species weighing 26 pounds 

 are taken at Alton and Grafton, where they are sometimes called 

 "niggerlips" by the fishermen. 



Of the four commercial catfishes taken in the Atchafalaya River, 

 Louisiana — viz, blue cat, goujon, eel cat, and spotted cat — the eel cat 

 stands third in commercial importance, Evermann states, the relative 

 importance of the others being in the order enumerated. 



The yellow catfish (Ameiurus natalis) ranges from the Great Lakes 

 region to Virginia and Texas. It is abundant in many places and 

 doubtless appears in the markets with others of its congeners. 



According to Smith," the brown catfish (Ameiurus platycephalus) 

 has a restricted range, embracing only the streams from Cape Fear 

 River to the Chattahoochee. Its maximum length is somewhat over 

 1 foot. It is abundant in some places and is largely used as food. 

 Its commercial importance, however, owing to its restricted distribu- 

 tion, is doubtless limited. 



The black catfish (Ameiurus erehennus) inhabits coastwise waters 

 from New Jersey to Florida, having a maximum length of about 1 

 foot. In Florida, especialh^ in the wSt. Johns River, it is one of the 

 important catfishes. 



Smith says (op. cit.) regarding the white catfish (Ameiurus catus): 



This species, whose form and color vary with age and environment, inhabits coast- 

 wise fresh waters from New Jersey to Texas. * * * The maximum length is 2 

 feet. * * * As food, this is one of the best of the catfishes, although its com- 

 mercial importance in North Carolina is comparatively slight, owing in part to the 

 abundance of other desirable fishes and in part to the fact that most of the catfish 

 are caught where shad, alewives, and striped bass are receiving special attention. 



o Smith, H. M.: Fishes of North Carolina. North Carolina Geological and Natural History Survey, 

 vol. u, 1907. 



