Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 329 



ers, and wished to represent a scene of suffering, in which the 

 sufferer was light-hearted, seeming to recognize that all was for 

 the best, we should take for the subject a Bull-head, with a boy 

 searching with a knife for a long-lost fishhook. 



"The Bull-head is a fish that has no scales, but in lieu thereof 

 has a fine India rubber skin, that is as far ahead of fiddle-string 

 material for strength and durability as possible. The meat of the 

 Bull-head is not as choice as that of the Mackerel, but it fills up a 

 stomach just as well, and the Sun insists that the fish commission- 

 ers shall drop the hatching of aristocratic fish, and give the Bull- 

 heads a chance." 



But the editor of London Punch does not agree with the editor 

 of the Milwaukee Sun, and When the introduction into England of 

 one of our catfishes was being suggested, Punch printed this 

 protest : 



"Oh, do not bring the Catfish here! 

 The Catfish is a name I fear. 



Oh, spare each stream and spring, 

 The Kennet swift, the Wandle clear, 

 The lake, the loch, the broad, the mere, 

 From that detested thing! 



"The Catfish is a hideous beast, 

 A bottom-feeder that doth feast 



Upon unholy bait; 

 He's no addition to your meal, 

 He's rather richer than the eel; 



And ranker than the skate. 



"His face is broad, and flat, and glum; 

 He's like some monstrous miller's thumb; 



He's bearded like the pard. 

 Beholding him, the grayling flee, 

 The trout take refuge in the sea, 



The gudgeons go on guard. 



"He grows into a startling size; 

 The British matron 'twould surprise, 



And raise her burning blush 

 To see white catfish as large as man, 

 Through what the bards call 'water wan', 



Come with an ugly rush! 



"They say the Catfish climbs the trees, 

 And robs the roosts, and down the breeze 



Prolongs his caterwaul. 

 Oh, leave him in his western flood, 

 Where the Mississippi churns the mud; 

 Don't bring him here at all!" 



