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The Siluridae compose a large and important family of mostly 

 fresh water fishes. It is represented here by two genera and 

 three species, all of which have teeth in the jaws only and 

 possess eight barbels. 



Ameiurus catus (L.). 

 White Catfish. 



A. albidus IyESUEUR. A. niveiventris Cope. 



The white channel or "mud" catfish occurs in all the larger 

 streams subject to the tide, and grows to a size of nearly two 

 feet. The color on the upper parts is stone gray or bluish, 

 underneath whitish, often with a delicate rosy tint, the lower 

 fins sometimes tinged with red. The caudal is furcate. The 

 anal has 20 or more rays. 



This fish occurs along the Atlantic and Gulf Coast regions. 

 It is frequently caught on set lines with liver or killy bait and 

 bites best at night. The flesh is much better flavored than 

 that of the next. 



Ameiurus nebulosus (Les.). 



Common Catfish. 



The common catfish, bullhead or pout is one of the most 

 plentiful of fishes all over the eastern United States. It is of 

 very variable color, from dark blackish and olive to brown and 

 yellowish above, becoming lighter below, and often clouded on 

 the sides. Those from tidal or running water are lighter 

 colored than those from stagnant places or ponds. It is fre- 

 quently found in boggy places with hardly enough water to 

 cover it. The tail fin is unevenly truncate, the upper part a 

 little longer than the lower ; the adipose fin is free ; the anal 

 has about 21 rays. The pectoral spines are long, stout, and 

 serrate behind for the greater part of their length. The species 

 A. melas (Raf.) is very similar to this and perhaps will ulti- 

 mately be classed with it. 



The largest specimen of the catfish found by me in the near 

 vicinity measured 13^ inches in length and weighed one 

 pound, two ounces ; further inland they appear to grow to a 

 length of 18 inches, and some seen by me were nearly of that 

 length. 



