The Fisbes of our Boyhood 1 1 1 



parts in our sport. When they did take the hook, 

 the bait was a worm. 



Catfish and bullheads, however, always could be 

 depended upon thirty or more of them during an 

 evening. What the boys called " channel-cats " were 

 taken from midstream by long handlines which 

 had a sinker at the end and two hooks bent to 

 short lengths of line above the sinker. Worms were 

 deadly bait, and shortly after sunset was the best 

 time. The catfish were of all sizes, from finger- 

 lings with more horns than body, up to great be- 

 whiskered ruffians of twenty odd pounds. With the 

 exception of the head, repulsive with huge mouth, 

 small eyes, and long appendages, the smaller chan- 

 nel-cat is a handsome fish. The body is clean cut, 

 the fins well proportioned, while the silvery, scale- 

 less, slippery skin is not unattractive. Fish of about 

 one pound weight were excellent eating, although 

 many people would not touch them. A half dozen 

 of them, entombed in jelly, which also contained 

 vinegar, hard-boiled eggs, sprigs of parsley and ice- 

 cold, was but those days have passed away ! 



These fish had to be very carefully removed from 

 the hook. The long horns, or feelers, were harmless, 

 but in the fins near the gills were awful, serrated spikes 

 which could inflict most painful wounds. If allowed, 

 the slippery cat would swing his head vigorously, 

 whereupon the captor's hand or wrist was sure to 

 suffer. The small mud-cat, or " bullhead," also has 

 these weapons with a complete knowledge of their 

 use. Frequently wounds from them caused a severe 

 inflammation, which was apt to extend to both the 

 temper and talk of the victim. 



