The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-09-12
THE GAY OLD CATFISH
(By A. V. D OCKERY.)

has been colored with Emo mud Tor
months. The water is SO low anu
thick hat game fish cannot see d
bait a yard away. A carp, IN Jump
ing out of the water to get air, IS
likely to leave a hole that requires
some little time for the water 70 set
tie up.
The only thing to do is to go after
the catfish, which feels for It's Iood
with it's mustache. Angle worms
make the most attractice lure, put
the catfish is not at all fastldlouS III
his appetite.
1t is as easily caught as it is diff
ficuIt to get loose from the hook. Inc
fins are sharp and dangerous.
Sometimes a tWo-pounder VIII 1901
the fisherman by his unexpected
gaiety. l have played such a hsh
several minutes for a bass, when II
nally he gave up in a lump and was
taken into the boat, weighing, snip
perry, and granting, or rather purrlng.
The mouth is so big that unless
he swallows the bait, he has to slide
the hook from one side of his mouth
to the other in trying to get the bait
off, and then the hook catches in the
corner of the lip, which is tough ana
a safe hold.
Fish deep because he loves to creep
along the bottom in search OF some
thing to eat. He is not wary, almost
any kind Of a trap is good enough.
The best is q basket made Of White
oak splits, any size, and arranged
with spikes at the mouth, through
which the fish may go, and the sharp
points will prevent egress. This bas-
ket, baited with a Sh~eepShead or a
piece of rabbit, and sunk to the bot
tom Of a deep hole, is a sure catch
for catfish. Often, in pulling it up
by the string attached to it, one may
find 10 or 20 fish. 1t has been used
successfully on the Pee Dee for a
hundred years.
Like other fish, the cat does not
care to feed while it is spawning and
will only take the bait in anger at its
intrusion upon the nesting place.
If the cat cannot find a ready-to-
rock, or stump, he will burrow a hole
into the mud bank, deposit eggs. and
stand guard over the fry with head
peeping out of the hole.
When the spines, horns, or fins Of
the young become hard they are turn
mistake other fish are not likely to
try to swallow young catfish hey
may be digestible, but are bad to
handle.
Several times I have seen mecca
sins come - a jam with a catfish
side horns. The fish did not want
to go farther, and the snake did not
want, if it could, to turn loose. And
probably the danger would be greater
in negotiating the fish head first.
The catfish is an all-day and night
feeder. He is a vegetarian, too, for
I have often found grass in their
stomachs.
He is a rover and the angler must
meet him half way. Batting a place
for him avails little. Be patient. as
in all sorts of fishing. I do not mean
fhnf "a ~ To eff 1Ou-o oDI ryoSf
Be patient in hunting for the fish.
If he is at any place and his appetite
is sharp, he is not going to exercise
patience about taking the bait. If
he is not there, or is indisosed, move
on, and keep OF moving. Do not
expect the fish to hunt you up, only
by chance he may come across you.
I think a person looks like a fool
sitting for hours on a mud bank
waiting for something to turn up. ]
believe he feels like one.
Catfish grow to over 100 pounds in
the Mississippi territory, but there
is a plenty of water. We have them
in North Carolina up to s or 10
pounds weight.
The channel cat is the ~cleanest
feeder, and while he IS despised by
the epicure, it is through ignorance,
The flesh is white, ~succulent, and if
properly prepared, makes a most
palatable dish.
The Roanoke people have their ex-
cellent rockfish muddles. and much
after that style the Pee dee people
enjoy their catfish stews. A big, old
style iron washpot serves as the
stove. Into this the cleaned fish
heads on, are placed, with a big
rasher of bacon, Irish potatoes
onions, salt and pepper to the taste
covered with water and boiled to a
frazzle-served with cornbread. on
the bank of a Strearn-thiS dish be-
ing good enough for anybody. You
can chew it or drink it.
The catfish does not make a good
fry; it is likely to cook too hard be
fore ready. But by sIlcing a big cat.
fish into small, thin STRIPS, something
like steaks, and roasting and basting
with butter, vinegT pepper and salt
it makes as good a dish as any othe,
fish.