NOTES ON NEW JERSEY FISHES. 369 



but four inches. Formerly the large white cat was very abundant, 

 jittpcaring in late May or early June, according to the weather, and on 

 either <i<le of the river, as a long continuous procession, narrow, but 

 of great length. During their ascension they would frequently flip 

 like the black belly herring, though the very large ones usually ap- 

 peared to move up singly and seldom or never flip. The frequency of 

 their flipping very often determined the extent of the procession, for 

 if rather narrow the flipping was comparatively less than when the 

 procession was wide. These processions would push away beyond tide- 

 water into the upper basin of the Delaware for many miles, their 

 object seemingly to feed on the numerous small snails which swarmed 

 in those regions. As this source of food seemed to decrease or disap- 

 pear, the cat fish gradually descended the river, so that they would 

 again reach Trenton by about July. As the snails grew, or at least 

 seemed to be more numerous, the advent of the cat fish was more 

 marked, the fish afterwards gradually disappearing. Sometimes two 

 or three runs would be noted in June, when the ascension occurred, 

 and on one occasion many years ago seven wagonloads were taken in 

 a single haul. The fishermen think the "bullhead" never occurs in 

 strings, but appears scattered, both when ascending and descending, 

 and it is only found when baited. The "silver tail" moves off the 

 first full moon in August. Bullheads reach about one to three or four 

 pounds in weight, and though considered better in the Susquehanna, 

 the "silver tail" is the better fish in the Delaware. 



Reported to occur in the Delaware at Burlington Island. 



Ameiurus nebulosus (Le Sueur). 



Yellow Cat. 



This species is reported to be common in Raccoon Creek at Bridge- 

 port, Gloucester county. A number, each weighing about a pound, 

 were seen April 19th, 1908. 



Mr. Emlen Martin says it is common in the Rancocas Creek at 

 Centerton, Burlington county. 



Reported common in Sluice Creek, tributary of Dennis Creek, in 

 Cape May county. 



Mr. J. B. Vanderveer says they deposit in the Delaware in June, 



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