240 Modern Fishculture in Fresh and Salt Water. 



Of catfishes we have two salt-water species and 

 sixteen in fresh water, from the great Amicurus nigri- 

 cans, which grows to loo pounds weight, down to 

 small ones which do not get to be over four inches in 

 length. The common "bullhead" of New York, A. 

 nebulosus, grows to a length of eighteen inches and 

 ranges from New England to Wisconsin, Virginia and 

 Texas. The best of all the species for table is the 

 "channel cat," or ''white cat," Ictaliirus punctatus, 

 which grows to three feet, and is thus described b}' 

 Jordan: "Oliveaceus, rarely blackish^ the sides sil- 

 very, almost always with small round dark olive spots ; 

 eye large, not wholly in front of middle of head ; mouth 

 small ; barbels long ; spines strong, serrate ; Montana 

 to Vermont, Georgia and Mexico ; very abundant in 

 flowing streams. A handsome fish; the best in the 

 family as food." 



The A. albidus of the Potomac is also called "white 

 cat" and "channel cat." It has a stout body and broad 

 head and is not spotted. The common names should 

 not confound the species. They guard their nests. 



Fin rays soft with a stout pungent spine in the dor- 

 sal and pectorals. In the latter fins these spines can 

 be set at right angles to the body and locked so that 

 they may be broken before they can be pressed down. 

 There is a sort of trigger-bone behind these pectoral 

 spines which, if touched, allows them to be laid back. 

 In former years, when inspecting the commercial fish- 

 eries on the Hudson, I discovered this and the knowl- 

 edge was of value in getting a "bullhead" from a gill 

 net where it was entangled. 



