255 



blanee tkey bore to fish they had beeti acquainted 

 with before. 



The black cat-fish are caught weighing from sir 

 to one hundred and ten pounds ; the yellow cat-fish, 

 which resemble the pout, are sometimes of five 

 pounds weight ; pike, from eight to thirty -five 

 pounds weight; bass; salmon, very different from 

 the fine lish of that name in the rivers of the north- 

 ern states, but somewhat resembling the salmon- 

 trout; perch; sturgeon, of two kinds; and buffaio>- 

 fish, so called by the Indians and Europeans, on ac- 

 count of its being heard sometimes to bellow in the 

 water. There is also a curious fish called the spade- 

 fish ; it is furnished with a bony weapon projecting 

 from the nose, from six to ten inches in length, and 

 from two to five in width ; thin, and like a narrow 

 shovel; this appears designed to enable its posses- 

 sor to dig up its prey from the mud. The fish have 

 been caught with a seine, and sometimes they will 

 bite at a hook. They are from five to twelve pounds 

 Weight : the body is long and slender. 



On the banks of the rivers and creeks are a great 

 many cray-fish. This is a mischievous little crea- 

 ture to dams and v/ater-courses, by digging holes, 

 which let off the water.* 



JVavigation^ 

 The navigation of the Ohio in a dry season is ra- 

 ther troublesome from Fort Pitt to the Mingo town, 

 (about seventy-five miles) but from thence to the 

 Mississippi, there is always a sufficient depth of 



* Karris's Tour to Ohie. 



