Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1903-04-15

highly beneficial in the lakes and ponds
where distributed.
1t is surprising how few people
know the names of the various fish
foods. The federal fish commission
is doing a good educational work in
teaching people the names of fishes;
a task which has been found to be ex-
ceedingly difficult. Different names
are often given to the same fish, in
different localities. For example
take the catfish family, or siluridae
In Pennsylvania this fish is always
called catfish, but in New York it
is bullhead, in Massachusetts,,
hornpout, in Connecticut, bullprout
in Maine bullplug, and in some parts
Of the west sucker.
There is popular saying that "a
catfish has forked tail, and a bull.
head square one" but Fred Math
er. most distinguished authority
shows that this saying is not borne
out by the facts. There are more thar
~ species of this fish family, and their
tails vary from being square to deep
~ forked. They are all popularity called
cathsh, only experts and students be
ing aware, of the real distinguishing
dlherences in the species. Moreover
they are all good for food, and pal
atable
Ihe trout served in the eastern
restaurants is one species, and that
OF the English hotels another, while
the trout set forth upon the tables
OF Alabama and Georgia does not be.
long to the same family, being what
we In the north and northwest call
black bass. The so-called shad of
Lake Champlain is not the delicious
fish caught in salt water or in the
rivers which flow into the ocean. 1t
is in reality the whitefish of the
great lakes.
when you hear any person talking
OF carp, you may inform him that
there are over 500 species of carp;
and when the word "minnow' is used
you may inform your benighted
friends that upwards of 1000 species
of denizens of the deep are so named
by the uninitiated Of like vagueness
are the terms club, dace, roach.
sinner, killies and sucker. Although
these names are most used as con-
venient terms by boys and girls who
know no better, they are too often
employed in the same manner by
| anglers and men of considerable in
telligence. For example, the term
sucker is applied to at least SO fresh
water species and five salt water
ones, which have nothing at all in
common.
The familiar frost fish, is vari-
ETY. of the salmon in northern ponds
and lakes. 1t is a very small sub-spe-
cies of the cod family on the eastern
sea coast. Then again, quite num-
Der of names are given to small
fishes because of the manner in
which they are prepared for the
table, regardless of their correct
| names. The parrish" and the 'sbut-
terfish" are so called because of their
relationship to the use made of them
by the cook and even they have diff
ferent names in different localities
because all cooks are not agreed as
to the best methods of serving them
During this Lenten season we must
have fish for breakfast, fish for din
ner and fish for supper; and this also
| in accordance with our geographical.
environments. But we need not &C
to Izaak Walton, Thomas j. NichoH
nor other piscatorial liars and philos
| ophers, to increase our woefuI col
lection of INSTRUMENTATION about oul
temporary dietition from the waters
| The majority of us will depend upor
the always reliable and truthful ven
ders of fish in the market p aces
and, after it is all over, we will won
| der what ever gave us Indigestion
| SMITH D. FRY.