The Blue Cat 



The lines are visited daily, or as often as practicable, and the 

 fish are placed in a live-box, where they are kept until the tug- 

 boats from Morgan City make their regular collecting trips. 

 Then they are transferred to the very large live-boxes or cars 

 carried in tow by the tugs, and are taken to Morgan City, where 

 the fish are dressed, put in barrels with ice, and shipped to the 

 retailers in many States of the Union. 



In spite of popular prejudice to the contrary, the flesh of this 

 catfish is of excellent quality, firm and flaky, of very delicious 

 flavour, nutritious in a high degree, and always commanding a fair 

 price. Of all the catfishes it is the one most deserving of cultiva- 

 tion and popular favour, and which could with profit be introduced 

 into other countries. This, however, would probably not meet 

 with the approval of Punch, if we may judge by the following 

 protest printed in that periodical, apropos the proposed introduction 

 of the catfish into England. 



" Oh, do not bring the Catfish here! 

 The Catfish is a name I fear. 



Oh, spare each stream and spring, 

 The Kennet swift, the Wandle clear. 

 The lake, the loch, the broad, the mere, 



From that detested thing! 



" The Catfish is a hideous beast, 

 A bottom-feeder that doth feast 



Upon unholy bait; 

 He's no addition to your meal, 

 He's rather richer than the eel; 



And ranker than the skate. 



" His face is broad, and flat, and glum; 

 He's like some monstrous miller's thumb; 



He's bearded like the pard. 

 Beholding him the grayling flee, 

 The trout take refuge in the sea, 



The gudgeons go on guard. 



" He grows into a startling size; 

 The British matron 'twould surprise 

 And raise her burning blush 



19 



