jmcquown
Yeah, I grew up by the Mississippi in Illinois and catfish was a "modest" food, when the budget was low folx would have it instead of meat. You could go right down to the fish markets and pick out some big cats, we'd fry 'em up whole. And lotsa peeps caught their own. They would keep them in big aerated livestock feeding tanks for a few days and feed them cornmeal to "clean" them out somewhat. Smoked sturgeon was another "budget" food, we'd buy a BIG whole one and it was really good eating. I can't imagine what it would cost now. Maybe at these riverside fish markets fish is still decently priced, haven't been to any for a while...
Sometimes catfish nuggets will be on sale around for one - two bux a pound, I'll stock up on them. It's about the only way I'll buy catfish anymore, I'll be dammed if I'm going to pay goor - may prices for plain 'ole catfish...
I can usually these daze get strip steaks or nice big shrimp or whatever cheaper than catfish - whoulda thunk it!? It's gone from being a budget standby to being an ocbuttional splurge :-
I know it's become a popular fish, it's featured on menus everywhere now, but you can't tell me there is a shortage either, what with intensive catfish aquaculture in the US South along with cheapo imports from SE Asia...
-- Best Greg
