THE GROWLER, BLUE CAT, iC. 863 



THE GROWLER, OR WHITE SALMON OF VIRGINIA, 

 Grystes salmoides, 



, 1.- similar in appearance to a large fresh-water ba&se. 

 The color is lighter than the basse, beginning with a dark 

 rray on the back and blending into a grayish white on the 

 abdomen. Fins similar to the perch ; tail dark and slightly 

 forked, similar to the salmon, with a dark bar across the 

 centre, and a similar one near the caudal. They are found 

 in some of the rivers of Virginia, and in the Mequary River 

 in New Holland, and no other place on the globe. The 

 growler is a fine-flavored fish, and takes the hook baited 

 with small fish, clams, or shrimp ; weighs from a few pounds 

 to fifteen pounds. 



THE BLUE CAT, LADY CAT, OR CHANNEL CAT. 



A friend, who has caught these fishes near the mouth of 

 the Mississippi, says, "They are a very lively fish, and the 

 beauty of the catfish tribe." They are taken in large quan- 

 tities in the vicinity of New Orleans, where they are some- 

 times called the " croaker," and run up into many of the 

 tributaries of the Father of Waters. 



It is certainly a beautiful fish, and, were it not for the 

 horns or feelers depending from its head, would be called by 

 any other name than a catfish. 



They are delicate and slender in form ; head pointed and 

 mouth small ; tail forked ; anal fin long, and running near- 

 ly down to the caudal. Color, dark-blue or grayish-blue on 

 the back, and dissolving into a pure white below the lateral 

 line, giving it a beautiful appearance, and making it worthy 

 of the compliment of " Lady Cat." Found mostly in swift- 



