98G REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
inches, and the average length was 22.57 inches. These fish were all much smaller 
than the books usually indicate this species to be. The largest I have ever seen was 
under 4 feet long. 
Rafinesque, in writing of this fish in 1820, in his Ichthyologia Ohiensis, says: 
“A singular species, very common in the Ohio, Wabash, and Cumberland in the 
spring and summer, but seldom reaching as high as Pittsburg. It appears in shoals 
in March and disappears in August. It is very good to eat and bears many names, 
such as spade-fish, shovel-head, flat-head, flat-nose, etc., having reference to the 
shape of its head, which is flattened somewhat like a spade. It is also found in the 
Mississippi and Missouri, where the French call it La pelle, or Poisson pelle, which 
has the same meaning. Size, from 2 to 3 feet; greatest weight, 20 pounds.”’ 
The eggs of the shovelnose sturgeon are used at Louisville in the making of caviar, 
and are mixed with those of the spoonbill cat. They are a little smaller and some- 
what darker than those of the latter species. The majority of the fish examined 
were not nearly ripe, and their spawning time is probably not earlier than July or 
late in June. 
Ictalurus furcatus (Le Sueur). Blue Cat. 
Several examples seen at Louisville, where it isa valued food-fish. Rafinesque, in 
his Ichthvologia Ohiensis, mentions this cat-fish under the name Si/urus cerulescens. 
He calls it ‘‘a fine species, reaching sometimesa very large size. I have been told tnat 
one was taken weighing 185 pounds, and another 250 pounds. Vulgar names, blue 
cat, brown eat, and cat-fish.’’ 
Ictalurus anguilla Evermann & Kendall. el Cat; Willow Cat. 
One example of this recently discovered and interesting species was seen at Louis- 
ville, May 18. Length 9 inches to base of caudal; weight 1.5 pounds. Head 3.83; 
depth 5.75; eye 6.67; snout 2.8; width of mouth 2.3 in head; maxillary barbel reach- 
ing gill-opening; distance from snout to origin of dorsal fin one-third length of body. 
Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque). Channel Cat. 
More common than the preceding, but not reaching so large a size. 
Ameiurus nebulosus (Le Sueur). Common Bullhead. 
A few examples seen at Louisville. 
Leptops olivaris (Rafinesque). Goujon. 
A large and important food-fish not uncommon in the Ohio; several exdmples seen 
at Louisville. 
Ictiobus bubalus (Rafinesque).  Small-mouthed Buffalo. 
Seen only at Louisville, where it was taken in seines along with the paddle-fish and 
shad. 
Carpiodes carpio (Rafinesque). Carp Sucker. 
This species was originally described by Rafinesque from the Falls of the Ohio, 
where it is commonly called carp. Several examples seen by me. 
Cycleptus elongatus (Le Sueur). ‘ Black Sucker’’; ‘‘ Mississippi Sucker”; Gourd- 
seed Sucker. 
This interesting sucker is found sparingly at Montgomery. It runs early in the 
spring, ahead of the shad, reaching Montgomery early in May. A fisherman at this 
place says they reach a weight of 15 pounds. They will not take the hook and 
are usually caught at the lock by ‘‘grab-hooking.’’ A few examples of this sucker 
were seen at Louisville, where it is said to be most abundant in the fall. It reaches 
a considerable size, examples of 18 pounds having been reported. It is a sweet, 
delicious fish, and finds ready sale. 
