Thanks boys!
Kinda hard to explain why -- partly it was just a goofy thing to do. Partly I wanted to try paper mache after reading my daughter's book on making masks that way. Partly it's because I used to imagine making a whole school of black ceramic catfish to put out as lawn ornaments -- but I have never made ceramics and don't own the equipment. Partly because I like catfish -- catching them -- and if channel catfish, they certainly fry up well. But also because they're mysterious and weird. Prehistoric seeming.
I hung these on the wall as a sort of sculpture at a small local coffeehouse, located in a basement. Made some white lily pads to go with them. It looked like you were viewing down from above the water. Not what you usually see in a coffeehouse in a basement.
I wanted to make a mobile of them afterwards, but never did. Thought that would be cool to see overhead, like they were swimming. But they got a little wrecked in a paper bag all jumbled up when I brought them home and kept moving them around to store. And one day my wife asked if I really wanted them, I decided no, and they left with the dustman.
So here's the only evidence they ever existed -- a photo. The last school of the now extinct Christmas Pout.
And no, catfish aren't associated with Christmas in the States. It's the usual reindeer, etc. here.