"and for what? for one small bass which could have been bought at any trustworthy market for sixty five cents, or , possibly some poor little kitten-fish-offspring of a catfish whose mothers milk is not yet dry upon it's lips"

Question

to what is the author reffereing when she refers to a Kitten-fish-offspring

Answer 1

In the passage you provided, the author is likely using the term "kitten-fish-offspring" humorously or metaphorically to refer to a young fish, particularly one that could be seen as innocent or vulnerable. The use of "kitten" suggests something small and defenseless, drawing a parallel between young fish and young animals like kittens. It serves to emphasize the triviality of the situation being described, particularly in contrast to the effort put into catching the fish. In this context, the mention of the kitten-fish-offspring highlights the irony of sacrificing so much for something that could easily be obtained elsewhere at a low cost.