FISHES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 
129 
55, which were taken from a male 22 inches long. The size of the young soon after hatching is prob- 
ably about 1 z /i inches, and according to Gudger (1918, p. 37) they are 4 inches in length before they 
are released from the shelter of the paternal mouth. 
This catfish usually is not used as food in the United States, but on September 23, 1921, about 
10 individuals were observed in a lot of “mixed” fish in the Baltimore wholesale fish market, which 
were said to have been taken in Chesapeake Bay. In Panama marine catfishes are seen in the 
markets daily and form an important food. In southern Florida this fish, together with a related 
species, Galeichthys milberti, is very abundant, causing considerable damage to the nets of mullet 
fishermen. 
This catfish is known to reach a length of at least 22 inches. It is not abundant in Chesa- 
peake Bay, but a few individuals are taken from time to time during the spring and summer from the 
lower Potomac River to the mouth of the bay. “It is said to have become less common than 
formerly.” (Uhler and Lugger, 1876, p. 177.) 
Habitat . — Cape Cod to the Isthmus of Panama. 
Chesapeake localities.— (a) Previous records: “Chesapeake Bay” (Uhler and Lugger, 1876); 
“vicinity of Norfolk, Va.” (Moseley). ( b ) Specimens in collection: Lynnhaven Roads, Va., pound 
net, May 17, 1921, and May 25, 1922; Rock Point, Md. (Potomac River), June 25, 1924. 
Family XXVIII. — AMEIURIDiE. The horned pouts 
Body naked; gill membranes separate or notched, free or at least forming a free fold across the 
isthmus; nostrils far apart, the posterior with a barbel; dorsal fin anterior, with a spine; adipose fin 
present; anal fin short or of moderate length; ventral fins with 8 or 9 rays. 
41. Genus AMEIURUS Rafinesque. Horned pouts 
Body moderately elongate, robust anteriorly; caudal peduncle compressed; head large, wide, 
supra-occipital extending backward, terminating in a more or less acute point, entirely separate from 
the second interspinal buckler, making the bony bridge from snout to dorsal incomplete; mouth 
large; teeth in broad bands on the jaws; those of the upper jaw without backward extensions at 
angle of mouth; adipose fin short, inserted over the posterior half of the anal; anal fin varying in 
length, with 15 to 35 rays. 
53. Ameiurus catus (Linnseus). White cat; “Channel cat.” 
Silurus catus Linna:us, Syst. Nat., X, 1758, p. 305; “northern part of America.” 
Pimelodus lynx Girard, 1859 (1860), p. 160. 
Amturus catus Uhler and Lugger, 1876, ed. I, p. 179; ed. II, p. 152; Bean, 1883, p. 367; Jordan and E vermann, 1896-1900, p. 138; 
Smith and Bean, 1899, p. 181; Fowler, 1912, p. 53. 
Amiurus lynx Uhler and Lugger, 1876, ed. I, p. 180; ed. II, p. 152. 
Ameiurus albidus Bean, 1883, p. 367. 
Head 3.38 to 3.9; depth 3.75 to 4.5; D. I, 6; A. 22 or 23. Body rather robust, somewhat com- 
pressed; head depressed and broad; snout very broad, 2.06 to 2.57 in head; eye 6.9 to 7.84 (young 
4.25 to 4.8); interorbital space 1.46 to 1.67 (young 1.89 to 1.92); mouth very broad, the cleft short, 
not extending to eye; maxillary 2.19 to 2.66 in head (young 2.87 to 3); teeth small, in villiform 
bands on jaws; four pairs of barbels present, two on chin, the longest about equal to or shorter than 
snout, one at angle of mouth, slightly greater than interorbital space, and one at posterior nostril 
equal to about twice diameter of eye; the barbels of young fish are generally longer; margin of dorsal 
rounded, longest ray 1.67 to 1.82 in head (young 1.2 to 1.36); adipose moderate, inserted about over- 
middle of base of anal; caudal fin moderately forked; the lobes about equal, rounded; anal fin mod- 
erate, its outer margin gently rounded, its base 1.35 to 1.5 in head (young 1.05 to 1.1); ventrals 
inserted a little nearer base of caudal than tip of snout in adult, in the young this proportion is re- 
versed; pectoral spine stout, not as long as longest soft rays, 2.22 to 2.41 in head (young 1.53 to 1.8) ; 
humeral process very rough. 
Color of fresh specimen, grayish on back and sides, head olive gray; underneath white; dorsal, 
adipose, and caudal grayish; anal whitish, edged with gray; ventrals and pectorals plain, with 
trace of gray. 
The above description is based on eight specimens taken in Chesapeake Bay, ranging in length 
from 35 to 330 millimeters ( 1 % to 13 inches). 
