Catfish started to grow, because row cropping became so unprofitable, and a lot of farmers quit row cropping and started catfish farming.

Now, they're making about 70 cents a pound, and most are pleased with that. They're not making a lot of money now, but they're making enough to make a comfortable living and not worry about losing the farm.

It is a good business to be in. But it's not as profitable per acre as it was in 1980s and 1990s.

From about the late 1970s to 2001, the catfish industry had a steady growth.

I watched it grow in the 1980s and 1990s, and 500 to 1,000 acres of water were being built every year.

If they quit helping us, we'll have a hard row to hoe. We think that we're doing the right thing by maintaining the building, making it available for the city and honoring our ancestors.