AMEEICAN CATFISHES. 19 



mined, with a brood of youno; thickly clustering under it, in the 

 manner previously described. From Smith's observations, they 

 might have been 8 or 10 days old; from Ryder's, about 15 days of 

 age. They were about 12 millimeters long. The development doubt- 

 less would be somewhat retarded in the cooler waters of this more 

 northern latitude. 



Forbes and Richardson describe the spawning habits of the "brown 

 bullhead" {A. nebulosus) as follows: 



The brown bullhead spawns in spring, the time having been May in 1898 at Havana 

 (Craig) . Their nests were found by Professor Birge in shallow bays with sandy bottom 

 6 inches to 2 feet deep. The eggs are laid in masses similar to those of the frog and 

 are of a beautiful cream color. 



Regarding the spawning habits of the "yellow bullhead " (Ameiurus 

 natalis) Forbes and Richardson say: 



The yellow bullhead spawned at Havana in May in 1898 (Craig). Females with 

 ripe spawn were seen in the market at Meredosia on May 24, 1900 (large). 



According to Smith, the spawning of the white catfish in North 

 Carolina occurs in summer, and the spawning habits appear to be 

 quite similar to those of the bullhead." 



Regarding the spawning season of the blue catfish in Louisiana, 



Evermann says: 



So far as the investigations of a single season may be relied upon, these results 

 (referring to a table) indicate that the spawning season of the blue catfish in the 

 Atchafalaya River is a prolonged one, but that the majority of the fish spawn in 

 March and April. 



Evermann states, regarding the goujon, that his investigation 

 indicates that it has a somewhat later spawning season than the blue 

 cat in the Atchafalaya River. Regarding the same species Forbes 

 and Richardson state that, according to Havana fishermen, the 

 spawning time in Illinois is in May or later. 



FOOD QUALITIES. 



In flavor and other edible qualities the catfishes differ somewhat 

 among themselves. As a rule the channel cats, especially the spotted 

 cat (Idalurus punciatus and I. furcatus), seem to have a reputation 

 for possessing more delectable qualities than the mud cats. This is 

 possibly due to dift'erence in habits and habitat. 



Regarding Idalurus punctatus Jordan says : 



As a food fish the channel cat is certainly better worthy of attention than any other 

 American catfish. There is much less waste in the body of the channel cat than in 



a There appears to be some evidence that the catfish identified by Ryder as the white catfish {Amei- 

 urus calus) was possibly the bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus). If such is the case, the similarity of habits 

 previously described could be readily accounted for. The doubt thus arising indicates the necessity of 

 observations upon the spawning habits of the white catfish. 



