356 SEVENTH REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



ing to Dr. Mearns, and is taken in winter as well as summer. A specimen weighing 

 3/4 pounds was caught in Poplopen's Pond in 1882. It is abundant also in Kaaters- 

 kill Lake, of the Catskill Mountains. The U. S. Fish Commission obtained it in 

 Black River, Huntingtonville, N. Y., July 5. Examples were sent from Canan- 

 daigua Lake, and young were obtained in Bronx River. 



The Pickerel is the largest of its group, reaching a length of 2 feet and a weight, 

 occasionally, of 8 pounds, though this is much above the average. 



Like the Pike, this is one of the tyrants among fishes, a fierce and hungry 

 marauder; and yet it has been introduced by fishermen into many waters in which 

 it is not native and has greatly multiplied. In the Potomac, the Connecticut, the 

 Delaware and other large rivers the Pickerel abounds ; it is to be found in large 

 numbers lying in wait among the river grasses or in ponds under the shelter of leafy 

 water plants for the minnows Avhich it consumes in enormons numbers, or some 

 unlucky insect, frog or snake which attracts its voracious appetite. 



Spawning takes place in the winter and early in the spring, and the young soon 

 become solitary and wolfish like their elders. 



The fish obtained from Canandaigua Lake spawned in their tank in June, 1897, 

 and the young were naturally hatched, but they died when about three-fourths of 

 an inch long for want of acceptable food. 



As a food fish not much can be said in praise of the Chain Pickerel, though it is 

 eaten and doubtless liked by a good many people. The flesh is often coarse and 

 watery and it is always full of small bones. This fish, however, furnishes consider- 

 able sport to the angler, since it is a very free biter and fights with great boldness 

 and stubbornness when hooked. It is caught by trolling with a spoon or still fish- 

 ing with li\'e shiners, pickerel frogs and many other baits. A minnow gang is often 

 very effective in Pickerel fishing. The hooks must be tied on gimp as a protection 

 for the line from the sharp teeth of the fish. 



This species is always hard to keep in good condition in captivity, because of its 

 liability to fungus attacks. The salt water treatment, however, keeps the fungus in 

 check. 



75. Common Pike [Lucius liicius Linnajus). 



Esox lucius Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus., 353, 1883. 

 Esox lucius Bean, Fishes Penna., 91, pi. 29, fig. 56, 1893. 

 Esox estor DeKay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 222, 1842. 



The ground color of the body is grayish varying to bluish or greenish gray. The 

 sides are thickly covered with pale blotches, none of them as large as the eye. 



