AMERICAN CATFISHES. 27 



In Minnesota hand lines, set lines, seines, fyke nets, pound nets, 

 and trammel nets were used. Set lines, closely followed by hand 

 lines, far oxcocdod the others in amount of catch. 



In South Dakota the catch of sot lines, with fyke nets as a close 

 second, greatly exceeded the others in amount. 



In Nebraska sot lines exceed tho otliors in catch. The fyke net is 

 not far behind. The yield of the other two, i. e., seines and trammel 

 nets, are far below them. 



In Kansas seines, fyke nets, set lines, and trammel nets wore used. 

 Set lines were the most effective, fyke nets next ; the others far behind. 



CULTIVATION OF CATFISHES. 



In the work of the Bureau of Fisheries the best results in catfish 

 culture have been obtained with the bullhead, or horned pout 

 (Ameiurus nebulosus) , called also yellow cat in some localities. This 

 species lends itself readily to pond culture, and is being successfully 

 produced at stations in the Southern States devoted to the basses 

 and other pond fishes. A manuscript report by Mr. J. J. Stranahan, 

 superintendent of the United States Fisheries station at Cold Springs, 

 Ga., containing observations regarding the breeding habits of the 

 bullhead and the methods of cultivating this fish at that station, is 

 printed in full herewith. 



NOTES ON CATFISH AND CATFISH CULTURE AT COLD SPRINGS, GA. 



By J. J. Stranahan. 



Realizing that there is a growing interest in the catfish among the planters of the 

 South and that the combination of bream and catfish is the best for ponds of small area, 

 especially for those who want the fish for food rather than for show or sport, the writer 

 determined early in the season to make a study of the breeding habits of the marbled 

 catfish, ^4. nehuJosus, the species hatched at this station, with a view of producing 

 them in greater numbers than has been possible in the past. 



So far as our experience goes, and it has extended over twenty-five years in both 

 the North and South, there is but one species of catfish that is really desirable for pond 

 culture, especially if the area of water ia restricted, and that is A. nebulosus, or what is 

 usually known as the bullhead or horned pout and marble catfish in the North (although 

 all of the small catfishes are called bullheads in the North) and speckled catfish in the 

 South. All attempts, so far as we know, to domesticate and successfully rear the chan- 

 nel cat {Ictalurus punctatus) in small areas of water have utterly failed. 



The people of the whole country, and especially of the central South, regard the 

 catfishes favorably, and the interest in them is surely growing. This being true, it 

 follows that an effort should be made to produce them in greater numbers than has 

 been done in the past. 



After observing results for several years it seems clear to us that the catfish under 

 consideration {A. vehidosus) does better in wild ponds, even of small area, than in 

 those that have been established with much care and j)ains. 



It has been noted at this station, especially in pond .M, where conditions are favor- 

 able, that the catfish like Gome such cover as a sunken log or stump. Accordingly it was 



