09/02/2026
The inspiration behind the 37th annual Wooden Boat Show artwork by Vida Miller “The Old Fish House”
“Capt. Rene Cathou – often referred to as “the King of Caviar” — was a highly recognized figure in Georgetown, South Carolina, during the 20th century, especially in the context of the region’s caviar trade.
His fame came from his role as a leading fish dealer and market operator in the Georgetown waterfront caviar industry. The Cathou Fish Market on the Georgetown waterfront was a focal point of the local caviar trade, and Capt. Cathou was credited with selling 51,280 pounds of sturgeon meat in 1963, a figure that earned him the nickname “King of Caviar” in a 1964 News and Courier feature.
The caviar trade in Georgetown was a notable economic and cultural activity, with sturgeon roe being shipped to Northern markets and even rumored to have been ordered by high-profile figures like Queen Elizabeth II and President John F. Kennedy (though no documentation confirms these claims). Capt. Cathou’s prominence in this trade made him a well-known local businessman and a symbol of Georgetown’s seafood heritage.“
