60 FISH CULTUEE 



when transferred to hatchery ponds, absolutely 

 refuse to breed, and show no signs nor indica- 

 tions of spawning; for this reason it is attract- 

 ing considerable attention. At one of the meet- 

 ings of the American Fisheries Society, it was 

 suggested that possibly success might be 

 achieved if the fish were placed in running 

 water instead of in ponds. Here is an unbroken 

 field, but one of great value, since the " spotted 

 cat " has few equals among fish for delicacy of 

 flavour. Its successful introduction into waters 

 which do not now contain it would mean very 

 much for the public. 



The bullhead and yellow cat-fish offer no dif- 

 ficulties whatever, and the white cat-fish com- 

 paratively few, for artificial or natural breed- 

 ing. In the matter of their propagation in 

 ponds, the only unhappy feature is the large 

 percentage of mature fish which are apt to die 

 about the spawning period. The act of spawn- 

 ing appears to be nearly as hard on white and 

 yellow cat-fish, and even on bullheads, as on 

 the shad or eel. One need not be surprised if 

 he finds after the spawning period is concluded 

 that he has lost nearly half of his stock. The 



