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This article was written in 1992 and is talking
about a study that was done with a product. I have never heard of this
product, but wanted to post this article here because of the information
that is in it.
-Mike/Admin
Researchers studying the physiological mechanisms behind taste and smell
in fish have netted an unanticipated catch: a simple compound that gives
catfish an uncontrollable urge to bite.
The scientists say anglers might apply the substance -- whimsically named
"Gotta Bite" -- to lures to make gamefish all but leap into the boat. They
also predict that fish farmers could use the appetite-stimulating chemical
to grow bigger fish in less time.
Gotta Bite's discoverers -- physiologist John Caprio of Louisiana State
University in Baton Rouge, and Slovenian animal behaviorist Tine
Valentincic -- were examing how catfish sense amino acids when they
stumbled upon their serendipitous finding. In the December CHEMICAL
SENSES, they report that catfish taste but do not smell Gotta Bite, which
is a blend of several amino acids, the building blocks that combine to
form proteins.
In 1977, Caprio discovered that catfish, unlike most fish, do not taste
the same amino acids they smell, or smell the same amino acids they taste
(SN: 5/21/77, p.332).
Taste researchers study catfish because these animals have an exquisite
sense of taste. "Catfish are basically swimming tongues," says Caprio, "so
they are ideal models for our research."
But even though catfish usually respond heartily to good tastes, Caprio
says he and Valentincic were shocked by the fish's initial response to
Gotta Bite. At low concentrations of the substance, the fish began a
series of rapid turns, as if searching for the source of the yummy flavor.
As the concentration of Gotta Bite increased, the fish flew into a feeding
frenzy -- champing at the water, gobbling up and spitting out small rocks,
and snapping at the glass walls of the aquarium.
Louisiana State University has applied for patents for using Gotta Bite to
coast fishing lures and as a diet supplement for farmed fish. Caprio
cautions that he and Valentincic have not yet tested the substance outside
the laboratory. However, he says, "if it works in the field half as good
as it works in the lab, it's going to be something."
COPYRIGHT 1992 Science Service, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group
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