THE FOOD AND GAME FISHES OF NEW YORK. 353 



72. Banded Pickerel (Lucius americanus Gmelm). 



Esox scomberius MITCHILL, Amer. Month. Mag., II, 322, March, 1818, Murderer's 



Creek, New York. 

 Esox fasciatus DEKAY, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 224, pi. 34, fig. no, 1842, streams and 



ponds of Long Island. 

 Esox americanus BEAN, Fishes Penna., 89, pi. 28, fig. 53, 1893. 



The Banded Pickerel is probably identical with the " Mackerel Pike " of Mitchill. 

 It is a small fish, seldom exceeding 12 inches in length, and will not average more 

 than y 2 pound in weight. It occurs only east of the Alleghanies, from Massachu- 

 setts to Florida in coastwise streams. In Pennsylvania it is limited to waters in the 

 eastern part of the State, and the same is true in New York. 



This Pickerel is too small to have much importance as a food fish. It resembles 

 in general appearance and habits the Little Pickerel of the west. It frequents clear, 



BANDED PICKEREL. 



cold and rapid brooks and is said to associate with the Brook Trout without injury 

 to the latter. 



December 30, 1895, James Annin, Jr., sent from Rockland, N. Y., a small Pickerel 

 which had attracted his attention on account of its colors and markings. It was 

 taken in a small spring brook, tributary to the Beaverkill, which, about 10 or 15 

 miles below, unites with the Delaware. Subsequently two examples were forwarded 







alive from the same place. The following notes and measurements, in inches, 

 relate to the first individual of undetermined sex, the organs being undeveloped. 



MEASUREMENTS. 



INCHES. 



Length, including caudal fin, - 7^ 



External caudal lobe (horizontally), - 1^5 



Middle caudal rays (from end of scales), - ^ 



Length of head, - i^ 



Greatest depth of body, - i/^ 

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