BEST BETS FOR CAGE AQUACULTURE

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CHANNEL CATFISH (Ictalurus punctatus)

Some people are prejudiced against eating these whiskery fish, claiming that "scavengers" aren't fit table fare (I wonder how many of these same people eat pork without a second thought). But, in the southern U.S., folks know better. In fact, that well-developed regional taste for catfish pretty much supports this country's principal fish-culture industry, which is centered in the lower Mississippi valley. Over 50 million pounds of cultured catfish are sold annually . . . and perhaps 2% of that total is grown in cages.

The channel catfish is really quite a handsome creature. Young fish-up to about a foot long-are covered with round, black spots and were formerly thought to be a distinct species (called willow cats, lady cats, squealers, or fiddlers). Although the channel cat can now be caught in most waters of the United States, almost all the commercial sources of supply are located in the south central states and California.

BLUE TILAPIA (Tilapia aurea)

The many species of tilapia-originally native to the Near East and Africa, but now spread throughout the tropics-are among the world's most important food fishes. When Saint Peter and his companions cast nets into the Sea of Galilee, they were fishing mainly for tilapia, which are sometimes marketed as "Saint Peters fish". In recent years tilapia have also become important for culture in greenhouses and other heated environments . . . as well as for seasonal culture in the temperate zones.

My favorite species, the blue tilapia, is about as beautiful a fish as you could hope to raise. A male in breeding condition (which is most of the time) is suffused with iridescent blue, particularly around the head, and has brilliant crimson edges on the fins. (Blue tilapia have won more than a few prizes at aquarium shows!)

You can obtain various species of tilapia from aquarium shops, but you'll get a better price (and be sure you're not purchasing a "miniature" species) if you buy from an aquaculture dealer.
Apart from their value as food fish, tilapia can-if a few are kept in a cage with other fish-reduce the time spent in cleaning algae from the inside mesh of the cage.

RAINBOW TROUT (Salmo gairdnerrl

The American Fisheries Society currently recognizes 14 species of trout as being either native, or successfully introduced, to North America. Most of these are important as sport fish, but only the rainbow trout is widely grown for food. Able to tolerate slightly higher temperatures than most trout, it seems reasonably content in the crowded circumstances typical of intensive fish culture.

The rainbow is indigenous to the Pacific coast drainage areas of North America, but can now be encountered almost anywhere trout of any kind are found.

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