INVESTIGATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI, LOUISIANA, AND TEXAS. 293 



is a more tempting bait. Out bait consists of larger examples of these 

 and other fishes cut up into the proper size. Eels are said to make an 

 excellent cut bait, but they are very scarce. 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 not be obtained 

 in quantity except 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 temperature of 

 the water. During the winter they come farther down the river where 

 the water is warmest, and in the summer they run farther upstream 

 or retire to the deeper waters. 



The goujon is said to be most abundant from September to Novem- 

 ber, or until the fall floods begin, when it gradually disappears. This 

 is the best season for catching it, although a few may be found at any 

 season. The goujon is most easily and usually taken with live bait. 

 It is by no means a handsome fish, but its great size, the excellence of 

 its flesh, and its superior keeping qualities render it a very important 

 food -fish. It rarely reaches a weight of 100 pounds ; but examples of 

 50 to 60 pounds weight are said to be not at all unusual. The largest 

 individual seen by us was a ripe female 41 inches long and weighing 

 48 pounds. It dressed 27 pounds. One 38 inches long weighed 37 

 pounds, and another 37 inches long weighed 36£ pounds. The goujon 

 is more voracious than the blue cat, and large individuals are apt 

 to feed on smaller examples of the latter when confined in the same 

 live-box. To prevent this, it is said that the fishermen sometimes sew 

 up with wire the mouth of the very large goujon. 



The blue cat has the same general habits as the goujon, but the best 

 fishing for this species is said to be during the high water in the spring. 

 Then the fish leave the river, lakes, and bayous and take to the woods. 

 Good "woods or "swamp" fishing is sometimes had as early as March, 

 The impression among the fishermen is that the fish run out over the 

 flooded districts on account of the more abundant food supply to be 

 found there. This consists chiefly of crawfish inhabiting the shallow 

 pools and ponds made accessible to the catfish through the agency of 

 the floods. 



The maximum size of the blue cat is about the same as that of the 

 goujon. The largest of which we heard weighed 100 pounds. The 

 largest seen by us was a ripe female weighing 35 pounds. A spent 

 female 31 inches long weighed 22 pounds and dressed 13 pounds. 

 Another spent female 30 inches long weighed 17 pounds. It is claimed 

 that large fish were far more numerous a few years ago than now. 



The eel cat (Tctalurus anguilla) is comparatively rare, and not until 

 these investigations was it discovered to be a distinct species. Dur- 

 ing the several days spent at Morgan City and Melville not more than 

 35 or 40 examples of this species were seen. It does not attain a greater 

 length than 18 or 20 inches nor a greater weight than 8 pounds. The 



