Unusual Basins
Some Unusual Catfish Not All Of Which Are Good To Catch by Doreen Murgatroyd
Catfish are a particularly interesting species of fish, both in appearance and characteristics. With their smooth skin and long barbels, they look like monsters out of science fiction. They are called more commonly called Catfish, though in Africa they are known by the name Barbel.
The largest of all catfish is of the European species (Silurus glamis) which may grow up to 15′ (4.5m) in length and weigh in at 660lbs (300kg). Unfortunately, there does not seem to be a picture showing the fish at this size. There are many on Google Images, but the larger of these record the weights at around 250lbs – a long way off from 660lbs. Nevertheless, the images do show a true likeness and one has to use one’s imagination to get up to the 660lb mark. Photographs show up to three people sitting down holding the fish. Following this then, about 8 people would be needed to hold the biggest of them.
Compare this to the fact that catfish are related to minnows and the universally known goldfish. From the sublime to the ridiculous! Catfish or Barbel though, to qualify, must have at least one pair of barbels (long spiky whiskers) on their upper jaw but may also have them in pairs on the snout and on their chin.
The various species of catfish or barbel display some interesting characteristics. For instance:
The Malapterurus electricus, widely distributed in Africa, is a shocking species, able to generate up to 450 volts which it uses to defend itself and to capture prey. People keep it in aquariums and apparently it grows to recognise those who feed it. Fat, just beneath it’s skin, insulates it against it’s own electric charge, it’s head being the negative pole. Pale in colour and small, the largest growing to 4′ (1.2m) in length. The natural habitat is rivers in Africa, the Nile, Niger, Volta and the Rift Valley Lakes and Lake Chad.
The talking catfish or barbel – Acanthodoras spinosissimus – makes grunting noises by moving its pectoral spine. It is also said to be venomous to humans. Its natural habitat is in Northern South America in the Amazon and Essequibo River Basins.
The next is the upside-down catfish – synodontis batensoda – found in the larger African rivers. It has a ‘twisted’ appearance making it difficult to decide where the fins really are. It has a definite fish tail and is covered in spots which in some species are clearly visible. Some people speculate that it may swim the way it does because its especially likes the food found at the bottom.
Or how about the walking catfish – clarias batrachus – an air breather which can travel overland. Aquarium owners often report that the fish has pushed the lid off the aquarium and escaped, only to be found dead and dried up some short distance away. They cannot survive long out of water. If their skin dries, they dehydrate and die. Therefore if the fish are going to look for another water source, one would have thought they would first have knowledge of the existence of such a source nearby. They are able to exist with low levels of oxygen in the water, they come in quite a variety of colours and their barbels more commonly point out in front of them, not to the side.
There is one last catfish found in the Orinoco and Amazon Rivers of unusual characteristics called candiru (vandellia cirrhosa). More to be dreaded than the piranha, it is strongly advisable not to go skinny dipping in these rivers as it is a parasitic catfish. Ouch! If you are interested enough, you may like to look up its queerer habits yourself.
The best known catfish for sport and food in North America are the Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) and the Channel Catfish (Ictalurus Punctatus). Catfish eat more or less anything and are mostly caught by still fishing. Some suggestions for bait would be worms, maggots, small fish, bread paste or cheese. There is a very useful website called landbigfish dot com which has a search box by state, and by fish variety, allowing one to find suitable fishing spots nearby.
Here are a couple of suggestions about kayaks for fishing.
The Ocean Prowler 13: This package includes the Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Trident Anger sit-on-top fishing kayak. Comes with an Ocean Kayak Basic Seat, Aqu-Bound Swell Plus paddle, a Stohlquist Fisherman Vest and two pair of Scupper Stoppers (one pair is medium, the other, small).
Future Beach DLX 126 Sporting Kayak. It is specially designed for sport fishing or photography. It is lightweight, comfortable and easy to manoeuvre. It has and adjustable back rest and seat cushions, adjustable Step-lock foot rest systems, storage hatches with rubber covers, sealed rear bulkhead, molded-in cup holder and swivel rod holders, and front and rear bungees. All this is at a great price!
You will find these kayaks at The-Boating-Store
About the Author
A retired high school teacher. Use the free resources like’Quick Compare 35 Brand Name Kayaks’ to help you make a choice about which one is best for you’ You could also try ‘Choosing An Inflatable Kayaks For Maximum Load’ and other similar comparison resources. Or ‘Ducks at a Distance – A waterfowl identification guide. There are also free small boat plans.
British Columbia Elk Hunt – Grizzly Basin – 2009
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It’s Not Unusual $3.99 “By Tom Jones. For piano, voice, and guitar (chords only). Pop; Soul. 5 pages. Published by Hal Leonard – Digital Sheet Music” |
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Hurley Unusual Beanie $22 Sometimes it pays to be unusual. There’s nothing wrong with being your own person. Be one of a kind in this sweet beanie from Hurley. This solid acrylic knit beanie features a small Hurley icon embroidered on the brim. It’s an instant classic and definitely unusual. But in a good way. |
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Medline Rectangular Wash Basins, Mauve, 50/cs $41.99 Features of the Medline Rectangular Wash Basins: Equally accommodating for limb soaking. Rolled rim makes carrying easy and the soap dish accessory can be clipped on for added convenience. Plastic. Latex-free. |
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Medline Rectangular Wash Basins, Gold, 50/cs $30.18 Features of the Medline Rectangular Wash Basins: Equally accommodating for limb soaking. Rolled rim makes carrying easy and the soap dish accessory can be clipped on for added convenience. Plastic. Latex-free. 6 quarts. 9 1/4″ x 11 3/4″ x 4 1/2″ |
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The Unusual Mind Of Vincent Shadow $5.99 Vincent Shadow isn’t particularly good at sports and is constantly being picked on by his classmates at Central Middle School. But it is Vincent’s unusually creative mind that truly separates him from other kids his age. Vincent’s top secret attic lab is crammed with toy prototypes – from Liquid Superballs to Bullz-I Basketballs and Sonic Snorkelz – and he has a sketch book filled with drawings of toys he still wants to build. So when a chance encounter with an eccentric toy inventor offers him the opportunity to go from unknown weird kid to toy inventor extraordinaire, Vincent realizes that playtime is over: it’s time to get serious about toys. |
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A Most Unusual Match $5.5 “Theodora Langston has come to Saratoga Springs on a mission. Using the last of her inheritance, she reinvents herself as a wealthy socialite. Her goal—to entrap the scoundrel who framed her grandfather. Instead, she draws the attention of Secret Service agent Devlin Stone, who sees through all her secrets and possesses some of his own.>Helping Theodora could jeopardize Devlin’s undercover assignment to catch a counterfeiter. Yet beneath their assumed identities lies a true connection that could restore his faith, and help her put vengeance aside. Until Theodora’s dangerous quest places both their lives—and their blossoming love—in jeopardy.” |
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It’s Not Unusual (Digital Sheet Music) $3.99 By Tom Jones. For easy piano. Pop; Rock. 2 pages. Published by Hal Leonard – Digital Sheet Music |
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Duravit 0050241092 Slotted Waste for Vero Basins Without Overflow, Chrome $75 Duravit 0050241092 Slotted Waste for Vero Basins Without Overflow, Duravit 0050241092 Slotted Waste for Vero Basins Without Overflow, Features: Part of the Vero Collection Umbrella drain, not a pop-up Overall dimensions: 23.62″ W x 18.5″ D |
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Weird, Scary and Unusual – Stories and Facts (Armchair Reader) $6.99 Armchair Reader: Weird, Scary & Unusual compiles some of the creepiest, quirkiest, most curious collections of knowledge ever assembled. Inside you’ll find tantalizing tales of unexplained phenomena, spine-tingling stories of horrifying hauntings, and extraordinary evidence that we live in a weird and wacky world. |
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Unusual Way (In A Very Unusual Way) (Digital Sheet Music) $3.99 “By Maury Yeston and Nine (Musical). For piano, voice, and guitar (chords only). Broadway; Musical/Show. 5 pages. Published by Hal Leonard – Digital Sheet Music” |
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Cyndi Lauper – She’s So Unusual – MP3 Download $9.99 She’s So Unusual is the debut album from Cyndi Lauper and was released on October 14, 1983. It was met with great success peaking at #4 on the U.S Billboard 200 and has been certified 6x platinum. The album produced several hit singles including “Time after Time”, “She Bop”, and “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”. |
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Foreigner – Unusual Heat – MP3 Download $10.99 This Foreigner download is available in DRM-free, MP3 256kbps format. Foreigner MP3’s will play on iPod(r) and all MP3 players. Individual tracks and samples of the songs from this album are available by clicking on the product image on the left. Need help? Click here and search for “downloads” to learn more. |
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A Treasury of Texas Tales: Unusual, Interesting, and Little-Known Stories of Texas $7.99 “Each of these collections of unusual, interesting, and little-known tales provides insight into the people and history of these states. Counter displays of all books are available. All are illustrated and indexed.” |
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Standard/Hotel Recessed Tissue Box for Vanity Basins $94 Made of brass with a Chrome finish. |
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Oliveri 863U Stainless Steel Sink, Double Equal Basins, Down Undermount $719.2 Oliveri 863U Stainless Steel Sink, Double Equal Basins, Down Undermount Oliveri is the premium brand of Tasman Sinkware, based in Adelaide, South Australia. If you’ve specified the best for your kitchen then your kitchen deserves an Oliveri. The elegant stainless steel finish adds a touch of sophistication to your whole home, and the custom-crafted accessories instantly transform every Oliveri sink into a total food preparation center. Every kitchen has a few precious items, such as a much loved roasting pan or that special serving platter. We belive the Oliveri Family Favorite sink will be added to that list. The huge “D” shaped basin is designed to fulfill the needs of a family and ensures that this Oliveri will win a place in your kitchen too. Oliveri 863U Stainless Steel Sink, Double Equal Basins, Down Undermount Features: Overall size 32″ x 20″ Maxi Basin1 is 8″ deep The 863U sink is a double large Maxi basin sink The elegant “D” shape styling of the Gourmet Basin will add a touch of class to any kitchen This generous basin is designed with a unique accesory lip to cater for the range of genuine Oliveri accessories Does not include faucet tappings Includes one basket waste, “D” colander, and cutting board See images for dimension information Necessary mounting hardware included * Faucet not included |
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Oliveri 863-1 Stainless Steel Sink, Double Equal Basins, Topmount $572 Oliveri 863-1 Stainless Steel Sink, Double Equal Basins, Topmount Oliveri is the premium brand of Tasman Sinkware, based in Adelaide, South Australia. If you’ve specified the best for your kitchen then your kitchen deserves an Oliveri. The elegant stainless steel finish adds a touch of sophistication to your whole home, and the custom-crafted accessories instantly transform every Oliveri sink into a total food preparation center. Every kitchen has a few precious items, such as a much loved roasting pan or that special serving platter. We belive the Oliveri Family Favorite sink will be added to that list. The huge “D” shaped basin is designed to fulfill the needs of a family and ensures that this Oliveri will win a place in your kitchen too. Oliveri 863-1 Stainless Steel Sink, Double Equal Basins, Topmount Features: Overall size 32″ x 22″ Maxi Basin1 is 8″ deep The 863-1 sink is a double large Maxi basin sink The elegant “D” shape styling of the Gourmet Basin will add a touch of class to any kitchen This generous basin is designed with a unique accesory lip to cater for the range of genuine Oliveri accessories 1 faucet tapping Includes one basket waste, “D” colander, and cutting board See images for dimension information Necessary mounting hardware included |
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Kohler K-3193-0 Bottom Basin Rack Fits 15-3/4 x 15-3/4 Basins, White $54.1 Kohler K-3193-0 Bottom Basin Rack Fits 15-3/4″ x 15-3/4″ Basins, White This Undertone bottom basin rack is designed to fit neatly into the bottom of a five-sided Undertone kitchen sink basin, creating a workstation for quick and easy tasks. Kohler K-3193-0 Bottom Basin Rack Fits 15-3/4″ x 15-3/4″ Basins, White Features: 15-1/4″L x 15-1/4″H For use with K-3345 Undertone sink Kohler One-Year Limited Warranty |
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Kohler K-3193-47 Bottom Basin Rack Fits 15-3/4 x 15-3/4 Basins, Almond $54.1 Kohler K-3193-47 Bottom Basin Rack Fits 15-3/4″ x 15-3/4″ Basins, Almond This Undertone bottom basin rack is designed to fit neatly into the bottom of a five-sided Undertone kitchen sink basin, creating a workstation for quick and easy tasks. Kohler K-3193-47 Bottom Basin Rack Fits 15-3/4″ x 15-3/4″ Basins, Almond Features: 15-1/4″L x 15-1/4″W For use with K-3345 Undertone sink Kohler One-Year Limited Warranty * Image shown may vary by color, finish, or material |
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DURAVIT 0863970000 Bathroom Foster Series Siphon Cover for Wash Basins, Alpine White $157.25 DURAVIT 0863970000 Bathroom Foster Series Siphon Cover for Wash Basins, Alpine White Duravit’s sophisticated European bath fixtures offer world-class design features that can turn any bathroom into a bath suite. Duravit’s German designed products are distinctive, award winning, and comply with the highest demands of shape, color and function. DURAVIT 0863970000 Bathroom Foster Series Siphon Cover for Wash Basins, Alpine White Features: Accessory |
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Whitehaus WH602BBL Decorative Basins 13 Smooth Round Drop-In Basin, Polished Brass $214.46 Whitehaus WH602BBL Decorative Basins 13″ Smooth Round Drop-In Basin, Polished Brass Whitehaus WH602BBL Decorative Basins 13″ Smooth Round Drop-In Basin, Polished Brass Features: 1 1/4″ center drain Overall dimension: 13 3/4″ dia Inside dimension: 12″ dia x 5 1/2″dia *Image shown may vary by color, finish, or material |
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January 24, 2012 4:29 pm
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