THE OALIFOEMA CONGER REL. 629 



The Salt-water Catfish — Arius pelis. 



The Salt-water Catfish is found along the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico to as far north as Cape 

 Hatteras. In the first volume of the Proceedings of the United States ISTational Museum, p. 278, 

 is an interesting account of its breeding habits, as observed by Prof. X. T. Lupton. The species 

 spawns there in July, and the parent (sex not stated) carries the eggs in its mouth. Silas Stearns 

 says of this fish : 



" The Salt-water Catfish is very abundant everywhere on the Gulf coast. It is found on the 

 sea-beaches, the shores and bottoms of bays and bayous, and even some distance up fresh- water 

 streams. It is a bottom-loving fish, feeding upon worms and small crustaceans chiefly, but will 

 readily eat anything else — fish, flesh, or fowl, dead or alive. As the pest of these waters, it is ever 

 present and never welcome. It breeds in the summer, in June, July, and August. The spawn is 

 deposited in the depression in the sand and impregnated with the milt. One of the parent fish 

 then takes the eggs in his mouth and by some movement fixes them against the gills, or between 

 the leaves of the gills. The eggs are carried in this position until the embryo fish are hatched and 

 have become perfect and able to care for themselves. The eggs when full size resemble white 

 grapes; they are large and clear. Sometimes the parent fish's jaws are much distended by the 

 eggs and young inside and its appearance is comical. 



" The Catfish emits a grunting noise (similar, although louder, to several fishes of this coast — 

 the grunt, drum, mademoiselle, croaker, etc.), which comes, I believe, from the swimming bladder. 

 This noise, when there are many fish present and all else is still, is very annoying, and I have passed 

 more than one wakeful night from hearing it on the Southern coast, where the fish were swimming 

 under my boat. The Catfish will always take the hook, and is not at all particular as to the kind 

 of bait; attains a weight of ten or twelve pounds, though the average is much less. It is seldom 

 eaten except as a last resort for fresh food ; it is, however, quite palatable. When caught it is 

 almost invariably mangled and consequently thrown away." 



190. THE MORAYS— MUR.ENID.a;. 



On our Southern coasts are several species of eel-like fishes belonging to this family. On 

 account of their sharp teeth and strong jaws they are rather dreaded by the fishermen, who fear 

 their bites. Some species, however, are here, as in various parts of the West Indies, in considerable 

 demand for food. The most important species is the Speckled Moray, Sidera ocellata, which is occa- 

 sionally brought to the Key West markets. 



California Conger Eel— Sidera mordax. 



"This species," writes Jordan, "is always known as 'Conger Eel' or 'Congeree.' It reaches 

 a length of five feet and a weight of fifteen or twenty pounds. It is found among rocks about 

 the Santa Barbara Islands, and southward along the coast of Lower California. About the islands 

 it is quite common. It is remarkable for its ferocious disposition. When captured it shows fight 

 and bites savagely, striking like a snake. Its flesh is very fat, resembling that of Anguilla, and 

 is very palatable when fried. The skin is said by the fishermen to be ' very pizen.' This species 

 is brought into the Los Angeles market, where it meets with a ready sale. Considerable numbers 

 are salted and dried by the Chinese." 



The Sea-snakes (OpMchthys ocellatus, 0. chrysops, etc.) are occasionally seen on the fishing- 

 smacks in the Gulf of Mexico, having been obtained from the stomachs of large groupers and 

 snappers, with which it is a favorite food. Stearns has obtained specimens at Pensacola caught 

 with hook and line on the snapper banks, sixty miles east of that port. 



