Channel catfish were eaten by Iroquois, Shuswap, Huron, Anishnabeg (Ojibway) (Anishinabek), Rappahannock and Montagnais (Innu) of St. Lawrence River [1-7]. Channel catfish were often caught in spring [2, 6, 8]. The Huron used spears and suspended ungutted fish in clusters in the longhouse, presumably to dry [2]. The Plains Cree are also reported to have consumed channel catfish, which they called mayumekwak [9]. The Iroquois were also reported to consume brown bullhead [1-7].
References
1. Clifton JA, Cornell GL, McClurken JM: People of The Three Fires: The Ottawa, Potawatomi, and Ojibway of Michigan. Grand Rapids, Michigan: The Grand Rapids Inter-Tribal Council; 1986.
2. Heidenreich CE: The Huron: A Brief Ethnography. York: York University-Department of Geography; 1972.
3. Matthew M: Foods of The Shuswap People. Kamloops, B.C.: Secwepemc Cultural Education Society; 1986.
4. Rogers ES, Leacock E: Montagnais-Naskapi. In: Handbook of North American Indians, Volume 6: Subarctic. edn. Edited by Helm J. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution; 1981: 169-189.
5. Speck FG, Hassrick RB, Carpenter ES: Rappahannock Taking Devices: Traps, Hunting and Fishing. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Anthropological Society; 1946.
6. Webster GS: Northern Iroquoian Hunting: An Optimization Approach. n/a: The Pennsylvania State University; 1983.
7. Tuck JA: Northern Iroquoian Prehistory. In: Handbook of North American Indians, Volume 15: Northeast. edn. Edited by Trigger BG. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution; 1978: 322-325.
8. Heidenreich CE: Huron. In: Handbook of North American Indians, Volume 15: Northeast. edn. Edited by Trigger BG. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution; 1978: 368-383.
9. Mandelbaum DG: The Plains Cree: An Ethnographic, Historical, and Comparative Study, vol. 1st edition. Regina: Canadian Plains Research Center; 1979.
Catfish include around 45 freshwater species in North America, including the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), found throughout eastern Canada, and the brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus), occurring from Nova Scotia to Saskatchewan. All North American catfishes are scaleless with characteristic sensory whiskers around the mouth, called barbels. Most catfish are found at the bottom of turbid waters and rely very little on vision, some species being completely blind, and depend more on smell and sound to sense their environment. They are most often dark above and pale below and have sharp spines on their dorsal fins that can cause serious injuries.
The channel catfish is the largest catfish in Canada and has a deeply forked tail, distinguishing it from all other catfish species. They are rather sedentary and prefer cool, clean, deep waters with strong currents. Like most other catfish, channel catfish eat almost anything, from minnows to algae. The French common name for the channel catfish is la barbue de rivière.
The brown bullhead is very similar to the channel catfish, but is much smaller, more brown, and with a less forked tail, and prefers warmer, more sluggish waters. The French common name for the brown bullhead is la barbotte brune.
Reference
Wooding FH: Lake, river and sea-run fishes of Canada. Madeira Park, BC, Canada: Harbour Publishing; 1997.