. 5 cm (fromGoode 1884) Common Name: hardhead catfish Scientific name: Arius felis Other Common Names: sea catfish, hardhead, silver cat, tourist trout (Arnold et al. 1960, Benson 1982, Breuer 1957, Bryan 1971, Christmas and Waller 1973); machoiron chat (French), bagregato (Spanish) (Fischer 1978). Classification (Robins et al. 1991) Phylum: Chordata Class: Osteichthyes Order: Cypriniformes Family: Ariidae Value Commercial: The hardhead catfish is not sought by the commercial fishery because it has a low market value and becomes entangled in nets and pump hoses. It contributes a small portion
. 5 cm (fromGoode 1884) Common Name: hardhead catfish Scientific name: Arius felis Other Common Names: sea catfish, hardhead, silver cat, tourist trout (Arnold et al. 1960, Benson 1982, Breuer 1957, Bryan 1971, Christmas and Waller 1973); machoiron chat (French), bagregato (Spanish) (Fischer 1978). Classification (Robins et al. 1991) Phylum: Chordata Class: Osteichthyes Order: Cypriniformes Family: Ariidae Value Commercial: The hardhead catfish is not sought by the commercial fishery because it has a low market value and becomes entangled in nets and pump hoses. It contributes a small portion (2-3%) to the industrial bottom fish fishery of Louisiana and Mississippi, which uses low value fish to produce pet food, fish meal, fish oil, and protein supplements for animal feeds. How- ever, it is frequently discarded due to the possibility of animals ingesting its spines (Haskell 1961, Roithmayr 1965, Dunham 1972, Swingle 1977, Benson 1982). It was used briefly as a food fish during World Wars I and II (Gunter1945). Its nutritive value compares favorably with croaker, spot, and spotted seatrout, but attempts to market it as human food have failed because the meat is dark and often has a strong odor (Benson 1982). Recreational: Hardhead catfish are frequently caught, but are usually discarded by anglers. They are held in low esteem because of their sharp venomous spines, undesirable flesh, and difficulty in handling and remov- ing them from the hook (Gunter 1945, Arnold et al. 1960, Harris and Rose 1968, Fontenot and Rogillio 1970, Hoese and Moore 1977, Swingle 1977). Fishery statistics for the Gulf of Mexico showed a combined total recreational catch of 18,474,000 saltwater cat- fishes (hardhead catfish and gafftopsail catfish (Bagre marinus)) in 1988 (NMFS 1989). Although edible, this fish is not often consumed due to its reputation of feeding on any available organic matter (Gallaway and Strawn1974). Indicator of Environmental Stress: This species has been used in resea
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