Few residents of Iowa know that Iowa waters contain some 131 species of native fishes, both game and non-game, and about 31 other species (1)*. The non-game fish occur in quantities, and many of them have good eating qualities, but the demand has not been sufficiently great to make it feasible to place these fish commercially on the local markets (2). The three most important and abundant non-game food fish not only of Iowa but also of the upper Mississippi valley—buffalofish, carp and sheepshead—are discussed in this bulletin with emphasis on their use as a food.