THE CATFISH PRODUCT 271 



The latest complete record of an annual catch of the 

 Catfishes throughout the United States is as follows: 



Northeastern states (1905) .... 104,265 pounds, worth $1,459 



Middle Atlantic states (1904). 1,422,886 " " 62,676 



South Atlantic states (1902) . . 1,310,392 " " 30,976 



Gulf states (1902) 2,415,315 " " 72,991 



Pacific coast (1904) 923,144 " " 27,292 



6,176,002 " " $195,394 



The Common Bullhead, 1 or Horned Pout, is merely 

 a small, cheap catfish, whose room is better than his com- 

 pany. It ranges from the Atlantic well into the eastern 

 edge of the Great Plains, and from the Great Lakes to the 

 Gulf. 



Much to the displeasure of many persons in California, 

 three species of catfish have been introduced into many 

 streams on the Pacific coast. Concerning them, the San 

 Francisco Evening Bulletin has thus recorded the facts, and 

 its views thereon: 



"Then the fish commissioners made another unfortunate 

 experiment, against the strongest protests that could be 

 put forth. They introduced the hated and almost worth- 

 less Catfish to the waters of California. These fish, like the 

 carp, have multiplied rapidly. It was reported, in answer 

 to protests made at the time, that only a superior kind of 

 Catfish would be introduced, against which there could be no 

 objection. But they turned out to be the same old toughs 

 that have occupied western rivers and bayous to the exclu- 

 sion of better fish. These Catfish are voracious feeders on 



1 A-mei'u-rus neb-u-lo'sus. 



