330 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



Though the cat-fish is a good deal of a scavenger in its tastes, 

 its flesh is firm, flaky and well-flavored, and there are many who 

 will agree with the old darky when he says: 



"Don't talk to me o' bacon fat, 

 Or taters, coon or 'possum; 

 Fo' when I'se hooked a yaller cat, 

 I'se got a meal to boss 'em." 



The Darkey and the Cat-fish. 



"Sat'day night come arter, 

 De niggers went a-fishin', 

 Dey call for Billy Carter, 

 'Case he want to go a-cattin', 

 Dey filled de jug an' started 

 For de Pocomoka river, 

 Chicken-guts was better bait, 

 Dey dug a gour o' wurrims." 



From "Pleasantry of the South." 



Head 3 to 4 ; depth 4 to 4.5 ; snout 3.66 ; eye 10 to 12 ; D. I, 6 ; A. 

 21 or 22 ; V. 9. 



Body rather long; upper jaw usually distinctly longer than 

 the lower ; humeral process more than half length of pectoral spine, 

 which is rather long; length of base of anal 4 in that of body; 

 dorsal fin inserted rather nearer adipose fin than tip of snout. 



Color dark yellowish brown, more or less clouded, sometimes 

 yellowish, sometimes nearly black, but usually distinctly marbled 

 or mottled. Length a foot to 18 inches. 



8. BLACK BULLHEAD 



AMEIURUS MELAS (Rafinesque) 



The Black Bullhead is found in brooks, ponds and lakes from 

 northern New York westward to Kansas and Nebraska and south 



Black Bullhead (Ameiurus melas) 



