CATFISH FAMILY. 627 



For a full account of the methods of culture the inquirer is referred to the Report of the 

 United States Commission of Fisheries, part iv, 1875-'7C, pp. 876-900, and to other papers in the 

 subsequent reports. At the time of the publication of this volume the progeny of the three 

 hundred and forty-five young Carp brought over from Germany in May, 1877, have been dis- 

 tributed to all parts of the United States, and the Carp is almost as familiar to our people as is 

 any other kind of domesticated animal. 



"The Carp," writes Jordan, "has been extensively introduced into California and Oregon, and 

 it has thriven admirably. In many parts of California there are now carp ponds, but they are 

 most numerous, and perhaps most profitable, in Sonoma County." 



189. THE CATFISH FAMILY— SILUEID.ffi. 

 By David S. Joedakt. 



The Oatfishes abound in all the fresh waters of the United States east of the Eocky Mount- 

 ains. The species of the three genera, Ictalurus, Amiurus, and Leptops, which constitute the bulk 

 of the family as represented in North America, all reach a length of from one to five feet, and are 

 all food-fishes of more or less importance. One of the Catfishes, Ictalurus ponderosvs, is our 

 largest fresh-water fish, weighing upwards of one hundred and fifty pounds, and two of the others, 

 Leptops olivaris and Ictalurus nigricans, reach a very considerable size. 



The Catfishes are voracious and indiscriminate feeders, any kind of animal substance, living or 

 dead, being greedily swallowed by them. They are also (especially the species of Amiurus) extremely 

 tenacious of life, living for a long time out of water, and being able to resist impurities in the 

 water better than any other of our food-fishes. They spawn in spring, and the female fish keeps a 

 watch over the school of young, much asa hen takes care of chickens. The Catfishes are especially 

 adapted for stocking ponds and sluggish streams with muddy bottoms, or which become partly 

 dry in summer, bodies of water not suited for the more aristocratic trout and bass. 



The species of the genus Ictalurus — known as "Channel Cats" are much less hardy than the 

 other Catfishes, and do not thrive well except in river channels. Any water which does not dry 

 up absolutely to the bottom in summer will suffice to nurture the common small Catfishes. 



The flesh of all the Catfishes is of fair quality, not delicate nor tender, but of good flavor. 

 The Channel Cats have whiter meat than the ordinary small Catfish, but the flesh is drier, and the 

 latter are usually preferred. 



The common Channel Cat — Ictalurus punotatus. 



The Channel Cat or Blue Cat abounds in all the larger Western and Southern streams, living 

 in the river channels. It reaches a weight of five to ten pounds and is readily salable, but its 

 flesh is not better than that of its less attractive relatives. It takes the hook readily. This species 

 is abundant in the Saint John's Eiver, Florida. In 1878 many were taken near the bar at Mayport 

 in brackish water. For table use they are much more highly esteemed than the Mud Catfish. 



Gkeat Mississippi Oat — Ictalurus ponderosus. 



This species, the largest of our Catfish, is found in the Mississippi, and probably in its larger 

 tributaries, where it reaches a weight of about one hundred and fifty pounds. Little distinctive 

 is known of its habits, which probably agree with those of the next species. 



