The Blue Cat 



only a few pounds. The species reaches a maximum length of 

 five feet. 



The most important fishery for the blue cat is in the Atcha- 

 falaya River, and the industry centres chiefly at Morgan City. 

 The methods of the fishery are interesting and merit a brief de- 

 scription. Ordinarily the fishing season extends from September 

 to May, though some fishing may continue throughout the year. 

 Practically all the fishing is done with "trot lines" and "brush 

 lines." The length of the former may vary from a few rods to 

 more than a mile, depending upon the character of the body of 

 water in which it is set. The snoods are usually 18 inches 

 long, and placed 3 feet apart. All river fishing during fall 

 and winter is done at the bottom, while lake fishing is at the 

 surface. The bait used is classed as "live bait" and "cut bait," 

 the former consisting chiefly of fish such as the hickory shad, 

 mooneye, etc., and crawfish. The "shad" are the best bait, and 

 100 of them are said to be worth 200 or 300 crawfish. Though 

 the crawfish will live longer on the hook, the "shad" is more 

 tempting. "Cut bait" consists of larger examples of these and 

 other fishes cut into the proper size. Eels are said to make ex- 

 cellent cut bait, but are hard to get. Live bait is most used from 

 September to November, inclusive, November being the best 

 month. It is preferred to cut bait at any time, but can be obtained 

 in quantity only in the fall. Live bait is used, however, whenever 

 it can be gotten, and occasionally a fisherman is fortunate enough 

 to secure good supplies during the spring fishing. 



These fish are influenced in their movements by the tem- 

 perature of the water. During the winter they come farther down 

 the river where the water is warmest, and in the summer they 

 run farther up stream or into deeper water. During the spring 

 rise in the Mississippi hundreds of square miles of the adjacent 

 country become flooded, and then the catfish leave the rivers, lakes 

 and bayous, and "take to the woods." Here the fishermen 

 follow them, and "woods" or "swamp" fishing is resorted to. 

 Short "brush" lines with single hooks are tied to limbs of trees 

 here and there through the forest, in such a way as to allow 

 the hook to hang about six inches under water. The trees selected 

 are usually those along the edges of the "float" roads, and, that 

 he may readily find his lines again, the fisherman ties a white rag 

 to each tree to which he has attached a line. 



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