The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE TWO TON CATFISH

IN MISSISSIPPI THE WORKMEN WERE LOWERING THE ROLLERS OF A ROLLER
DAM WHEN THEY JAMMED AND COULDN'T BE LOWERED ALL THE WAY. THEY
FIGURED THAT SOMETHING WAS CAUGHT IN THE ROLLERS SO THAY SENT A
SKIN DIVER DOWN TO SEE IF HE COULD FREE THE ROLLERS. THE DIVER
WENT DOWN AND CAME UP IN JUST A SHORT TIME. THE DIVER WAS WHITE
AND TOOK A WHILE BEFORE HE (COULD) TELL THE WORKERS WHAT HE SAW
BECAUSE IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT SOMETHING HAD FRIGHTENED THE DIVER.
FINALLY THE DIVER WAS ABLE TO SPEAK AND TOLD THE WORKMEN THAT HE
SAW A CATFISH THE SIZE OF A WHALE AND FIGURED THAT IT WEIGHED
AT LEAST TWO TONS. THE WORKMEN ASKED THE DIVER TO GO DOWN THERE
AGAIN AND FREE THE ROLLERS BUT HE JUST WOULDN'T GO DOWN THERE
AGAIN. SO THE WORKMEN RAISED THE ROLLERS TO SEE IF THEY COULD
FREE THEM AND WHEN THEY DID, THEY SAW AN ENORMOUS CATFISH SWIM
AWAY. THEY SAY IT WAS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A SMALL WHALE AND
WEIGHED ABOUT 2000 POUNDS.

Where learned: IOWA ; DAVENPORT

Date learned: 11-01-1968