ESOX PIKES 209 



quality as food have led to attempts at its destruction in Europe and 

 in parts of Canada. It is readily captured with minnow bait, or 

 with a trolling-spoon, and will also take a fly. It is often caught 

 with a hook through holes in the ice in winter, and affords a valuable 

 food to many an Indian hunter in the Canadian woods. 



This destructive fish has greatly decreased in numbers in this 

 state during the last twenty-five years. The older fishermen at 

 Havana remember when a thousand pounds were caught at a time, 

 while now scarcely as many will be taken during an entire year. In 

 1899, according to the report of the United States Fish Commission, 

 21,000 pounds of pike were taken in the Mississippi and Illinois 

 rivers within the state of Illinois. The total catch from the Missis- 

 sippi Valley was 216,952 pounds, having fallen to that figure from 

 809,134 pounds in 1894. 



ESOX MASQUINONGY Mitchill 

 (muskallunge) 



Mitchill, "Mirror, 297, 1824".* 



The muskallunge is sufficiently distinguished from other species of 

 the genus Esox in the key preceding. 



This giant fish, reported to reach a w^eight of a hundred pounds 

 and to average three feet in length — specimens six feet long and 

 weighing eighty pounds have been caught — has not been taken by 

 us in Illinois, although it occurs in Lake Michigan and rarely in the 

 smaller lakes in the northeastern part of the state. It is said by 

 Jordan to be native to all the Great Lakes and the upper St. Law- 

 rence, to certain streams and lakes tributary to the Great Lakes, 

 and to a few of the lakes in the upper Mississippi Valley. It occurs 

 also in Canada to the northward. In Ohio, according to R. C. 

 Osburn, a variety of the species, ohiensis, distinguished by narrow 

 irregular cross-bars formed by the coalescing of spots upon the 

 sides, is found in the Ohio River and its tributary streams. It is 

 equally esteemed for its game and food qualities. 



*Reference on authority of De Kay. 



