2 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
2. Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque). Channel Cat, “Shine-eye,” “Willow 
Cat,” “Spotted Catfish.” 
This important food fish is caught principally in the Savannah River above 
Augusta. The young have been taken occasionally in the brickyard ponds con- 
nected with Beaver Dam Ditch, a drainage canal. 
“Shine-eye” is applied to the young fish because of the bright eyes when first 
taken from the water. “Willow cat” is applied to larger fish, the name' originating 
from the fact that the fish is often taken from among roots of willow trees growing 
along the shore edges of streams. 
3. Ameiurus natalis (LeSueur). Yellow Cat, “Mud Cat.” 
This fish was taken only in a mill pond, located on the Mealing plantation on 
Sweetwater Creek, Edgefield County, S. C. The color of the specimens taken was 
plain bluish-black. This species is probably rather rare in the vicinity, and it is 
not distinguished from the “mud cat” ( Ameiurus nebulosus). 
4. Ameiurus nebulosus (LeSueur). “Mud Cat,” Bullhead, “Camel-back,” 
“Roundhead,” “Speckled Cat.” 
This fish, next to the “bream” (Lepo mis incisor) is the most comm on and the most 
important food fish occurring in the brickyard ponds. It is regarded as an inferior 
food fish by most of the white population but is much sought and well liked by the 
negroes. Earthworms are the principal bait used in catching this catfish. The 
dark mottled variety is the common one in the ponds, but the plain colored ones 
predominate in the streams. The names “roundhead” and “camel-back” are 
applied to the plain colored variety and “speckled cat” to the mottled forms. 
“Mud cat” appears to be applied indiscriminately to the varieties of this species as 
well as to one or two other species of catfishes. 
5. Ameiurus platycephalus (Girard). “Mud Cat,” Brown Cat. 
This species was taken only once. All the individuals seen were small, the 
largest being only 6| inches in length. They were taken in a borrow pit along the 
levee, about 6 miles below Augusta. The color in life was bright golden-yellow. 
The anal fin in 3 specimens preserved contains 22 to 23 rays, including rudiments, 
which appears to be a somewhat larger number than are ascribed to the species (16 
to 20) in published accounts. 
6. Hypentelium nigricans (LeSueur). Stone Roller, Black Sucker, 
“Spotted Sucker.” 
The stone roller was taken only once, and that time in Sweetwater Creek, 
Edgefield County, S. C. It apparently is rather rare and unknown to most fishermen. 
7. Erimyzon sucetta (LacSpede). Chub Sucker, “Pond Sucker.” 
This chub sucker is occasionally taken in brickyard ponds. It is rather rare 
and of no commercial importance, except that individuals of suitable size are 
sometimes used for “trout” bait. 
