SC - Catfish (Was: Fish at Feasts)

[Korrin S DaArdain]

On Thu, 17 Sep 1998 21:04:25 -0400 "Philippa Alderton" <phlip at bright.net>
writes:
>Beatrix asks:
> IS there any period recipes using catfish? )
>Actually, I think catfish is New World, but it sure is good. Wondering 
>if any of the old world fishes might be similar enough in flavor and 
>texture to substitute? Anybody have a clue?
>Phlip
>Phlip at bright.net
>
>Never a horse that cain't be rode,
>And never a rider that cain't be throwed.

Catfish
	Catfish are any of about 31 families and 2,000 species of fish
belonging to the order Siluriformes, most of which are found in
freshwater. Distributed throughout the world, they are most diverse in
South America. Catfish are distinguished by the presence of barbels, or
"whiskers"; the lack of true scales; strong spines at the front of the
dorsal and pectoral fins; and, in most cases, an adipose fin on top of
the body, in front of the caudal fin. The body is usually partly to
completely armored. Most catfish have small eyes and therefore rely on
taste, smell, and hearing. The barbels and much of the skin are often
covered with taste buds. Many catfish are inactive during the day, coming
out to feed at night. Freshwater catfish usually spend much of their time
(and lay their eggs) in hollow logs, undercut banks, and other hiding
places; if these are removed, catfish populations decline. One or both
parents guard the eggs until they hatch. The eggs are usually large, 2 to
10 mm (0.1 to 0.4) in diameter; males of some marine catfish species
brood their eggs in the mouth.
	Many species of freshwater catfish are used for human food. North
American catfish of the genus Ictalurus are important commercially and
are popular with anglers. Catfish farming, which involves raising and
marketing such species as the channel catfish, I. punctatus, is a rapidly
growing business in the southern United States.
	North American catfishes are fairly typical; others, however, are
more distinctive in appearance or behavior. A parasitic catfish, the
candiru, Vandellis cirrhosa, a minute South American catfish with strong,
recurved spines, has been known to enter the urinary tract of persons
wading in the water. The electric catfish, Malapterurus electricus,
native to Africa, is capable of producing an electric charge of up to 350
volts, enough to stun a human. The predatory walking catfish, Clarias
batrachus, has lunglike organs that allow it to breathe air; this ability
enables it to move over land from one body of water to another. Imported
to the United States as a curiosity from Asia, walking catfish have
escaped into rivers in southern Florida and have replaced native fish in
some local waters. A European catfish, the wels, Silurus glanis, is one
of the largest freshwater fishes; it may reach a length of 4.5 m (15 ft)
and a weight of 300 kg (660 lb).

(c) Grolier Encyclopedia

Korrin S. DaArdain
Kitchen Steward of Household Port Karr
Kingdom of An Tir in the Society for Creative Anachronism.
Korrin.DaArdain at Juno.com
http://www.geocities.com/NapaValley/Vineyard/1709

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