162 American Fisheries Society 



Mr. Barber: I was amused at the statement in the paper that when 

 catfish were sold as whitefish they had a ready sale. The catfish may be 

 just as edible and just as palatable as whitefish, yet to most people its 

 name is repulsive. Would it not be possible for this Society to change 

 the names of some of our fish? For instance, in our state what is 

 known as the "sheepshead" finds a ready market when sold under the 

 name of "gray bass," whereas if offered for sale under the name of 

 catfish, it could not be sold at all. We have also what we call "dog- 

 fish," a name which has somewhat the same implication as catfish. 



Mr. Millett : One of the few occasions on which I differed with my 

 friend Dr. Smith was when he. took steps, in connection with his work 

 in the Bureau of Fisheries, to masquerade "dogfish" under the name 

 of "grayfish." I never liked the idea of it. 



Mr. Barber: It should not be "dogfish." 



Mr. Millett: In the Missouri River, in the Upper Platte and around 

 there, the catch of catfish is something like 27,000,000 pounds a year. 

 What is the need of changing the name from catfish, when 27,000,000 

 pounds a year are sold under that name? 



Mr. Barber: Because it tastes better. 



Professor Prince: There is in progress at this very time a con- 

 ference in Ottawa dealing with the trade names of fishes, and a list is 

 in course of preparation, which may be the subject of consideration by 

 this Society at some future meeting. Many fish which at present bear 

 a grotesque name will appear under some different name. I have in 

 my hand a pamphlet which deals with a fish to be known as "mutton 

 fish." It is the rock-eel, or marine eel-pout and though many people 

 object to it, it is the best fish for table use that I know of. Along our 

 Canadian shores it occurs in quantities, but here and along the shores 

 of the United States it is not yet much used for food. "Mutton fish" 

 is a good name. 



