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BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
name “niggerlip” at Grafton and Alton with the species anguilla. In 1926 the 
author obtained specimens of niggerlip at Dallas City, 111., taken in the lake, and at 
Canton, Mo., below the dam. A positive identification did not seem possible on the 
basis of the published descriptions and the limited amount of material available, but 
the fish were provisionally assigned to the species Ictalurus anguilla Evermann and 
Kendall, known in Louisiana as “eel cat” or “willow cat.” A difficulty in identifi- 
cation arises from the fact that, with both punctatus and anguilla, the proportions vary 
markedly with age. Several of the probably diagnostic ratios of dimensions of nigger- 
lip catfish 60 centimeters in length were found to agree closely with corresponding 
ratios for spotted catfish 30 centimeters long, although distinctly different from those 
of spotted catfish 56 centimeters in length. A careful study of channel catfish and 
niggerlip catfish at all sizes not only would serve to clear up doubts as to the identity 
of the latter fish but would also make a valuable contribution to the systematics of 
American catfishes. In almost any locality fishermen distinguish three phases of the 
Figure 15.— Eel cat, willow cat (niggerlip?), Ictalurus anguilla 
spotted catfish, as previously mentioned. Some distinguish two forms of niggerlip, 
but distinction by name was not heard. 
As compared with the spotted catfish, size for size, the niggerlip, as known from 
our examples, has a larger and more prominent head with shorter chin barbels, the 
teeth on lower jaw extend back in longer and more tapering bands, the head is more 
fleshy, the body is decidedly slenderer behind, the color is blackish without spots, and 
the skin is conspicuously slimy in contrast to the usually clean integument of the 
channel catfish. The flesh is regarded as very inferior in quality to that of the highly 
esteemed channel catfish, although the local markets, at least, commonly take catfish 
as “catfish” without distinction in price. 
The species has been identified so rarely that statements regarding its habits and 
abundance must be based exclusively upon the reports of commercial fishermen. A 
notable feature of the niggerlip fishery is its very brief seasonal duration — they are 
said to be taken in quantity only in June, or a little earlier toward the south, when they 
enter dark traps in great numbers; box traps are more effective in capture than net 
traps. The month of June is supposed to be the season of breeding, when the fish are 
running in schools. One inf ormant said that he had seen the fish nesting in hollow logs 
about sawmills. At other seasons than early summer the fish are thought to be widely 
scattered over rough bottoms and therefore rarely caught. The specimens obtained 
by the author were taken in the last week of August. Presumably the niggerlips are 
