37 s 
AMERICAN FISHES . 
the West and South as far as Florida. It reaches a weight of fifty to one 
hundred pounds, perhaps more. In all the markets of the region where 
found it is one of the most important species, and its flesh, which can be 
cut in “ steaks ” like Halibut, is generally esteemed. Nothing distinctive 
is known of its breeding habits or rate of growth. Prof. Goode remarks : 
“ I have observed frequently enormous specimens of this species in the St. 
John’s River, where they are called Mud Cats. The young are sometimes 
called “ Flannel-Mouth Cats.” 
The White Catfish, the Channel Cat of the Potomac, Ictalurus albidus , 
of the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay, is very abundant in the Susque¬ 
hanna and Potomac Rivers, and forms an important part of the fish 
supply of the Washington market. It reaches a weight of two to five 
pounds, being much smaller than the preceding species, which it resembles. 
Amiurus nebulosus , the common “ Horned Pout,” “Bull-head,” “ Bull- 
pout,” or “ Minister ” of the Northern and Eastern States is the most 
generally abundant and familiar representatives of this family. It reaches 
a length of about eighteen inches and rarely exceeds three or four pounds 
in weight, while the majority of those seen in the markets are still smaller. 
It is probably the hardiest of all our fresh-water fishes, thriving in any 
waters, but preferring those which are quiet and shaded. Numerous other 
species very similar to this occur in our fresh waters. 
The Bull-head has been introduced from the Schuylkill into the Sacra¬ 
mento and San Joaquin Rivers in California. It has there very rapidly 
multiplied, and is now common in all the sloughs and bayous of the lower 
courses of these rivers. As a food-fish it is not very highly valued by the 
Californians, most of those brought to market being taken by the Chinese. 
leptops olivaris , the “Mud Cat,” “Yellow Cat,” “Goujon,” or 
“Bashaw” is found in all the large rivers of the West and South. It 
reaches a weight of at least fifty pounds. It is found only in the larger 
streams, swimming near the bottom. It is less attractive in its appearance 
than the other Catfishes, but we are not aware that its flesh is inferior to 
that of the others. This species, and other of the larger Catfishes, are 
often caught by “ jugging,” the bait being attached to a jug filled with 
air, which will in time tire out the fish and bring it to the surface. 
The Stone Cat, Noturus flavus , reaches a length of about a foot; the 
other Stone Cats ( Noturus ) are still smaller, and none of them can be 
considered as food-fishes. 
