8 AMEEICAN CATFISHES. 



notice. The largest are the "great forked-tail cat" of the Mississippi 

 (Ictalurus furcatus), the Great Lakes cat {Ameiurus lacustris), and 

 the yellow cat {Leptops olivaris). The first attains a weight of 150 

 pounds, the second 100 pounds, and the others perhaps 50 pounds 

 or more. Of the other cats the more important are the spotted cat 

 (Ictalurus punctatus), Potomac channel cat or white catfish {Amei- 

 urus catus), bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus), and the marbled cat 

 (Ameiurus marmoratus). Of less importance are the black bullhead 

 (Ameiurus melas) , yellow catfish or yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis), 

 brown catfish (Ameiurus platycepTialus) , black catfish (Ameiurus ere- 

 hennus), and the eel cat (Ictalurus anguilla). 



Ameiurus marmoratus has heretofore usually been regarded as a 

 variety of A. nebulosus, but the writer, basing his views on an exami- 

 nation of many individuals of both forms, believes the marbled cat 

 is a distinct species. While for fish cultural purposes the name is not 

 of much consequence, the distinctness of the two species, if a fact, is of 

 considerable moment, as the marbled cat might and probably does 

 require somewhat different treatment or methods of handling in pond 

 culture. It may be said that there is considerable difference in 

 structure, and supposed intergradation in color is assumed from the 

 fact that some individuals of the common bullhead in their color 

 markings (nebulations) somewhat resemble those of the marbled cat; 

 and the marbled cat attains a much larger size than the common 

 bullhead. 



There are also two species of salt-water catfish, one of which, at 

 least, in late years has attained some commercial importance. These 

 are the gaff-topsail cat (Felichthys marinus) and the sea catfish 

 (GaleicMhys milherti). Their commercial importance is not great, 

 but they doubtless form a portion of the records of the catfish 

 fisheries. 



Catfish are preeminently a poor man's fish. They not only afford 

 him a cheap food fish, but become so abundant in time and there is 

 so much demand for them that they support a paying industry, not- 

 withstanding their cheapness. They may be raised in artificial ponds 

 or in ponds unsuited to other fish. They propagate rapidly and pro- 

 lifically and grow fast. There can be no objection to the introduction 

 of them into waters unsuited to other fishes or in which other fishes 

 do not occur, provided there is no danger of escape into waters where 

 they would prove an undesirable acquisition. 



HABITAT. 



Almost any one of the species of catfishes seems to be adapted to a 

 wide range of climatic conditions, although somewhat restricted to 

 certain immediate surroundings. Ameiurus lacustris is supposed to 

 be distributed from the Saskatchewan River and the Great Lakes 



