35^ SEVENTH REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



the Pike in Silver Lake, Wyoming County, N. Y., July i, 1896. He reports that it 

 does not occur in Canandaigua Lake. 



On the continent of Europe the largest recorded specimen was taken at 

 Bregenty in 1862; this was said to weigh 145 pounds. Li Scotland a Pike measur- 

 ing more than 7 feet and weighing 72 pounds has been reported. We do not find 

 monsters like these in America. "Frank Forrester " mentions individuals of 16 to 

 17 pounds. Lake George, N. Y., is famous for its large Pike. Dr. Frank Presbrey 

 of Washington, D. C, caught one there in 1889 weighing a little more than 16 

 pounds, and more than 30 examples averaging in excess of 10 pounds each were 

 taken that season by another Washington party in the same waters. Some of the 

 largest Pike were upward of 4 feet long. The average length of adults is about 2 

 feet. 



The fishing season generally begins June i and ends December i, but many of 

 the States have no close season. In Pennsylvania the close time lasts from Decem- 

 ber I to June I. 



The Pike is a voracious fish and destroys everything within its reach in the form 

 of animal life ; other fish, water birds and mammals are consumed in enormous 

 numbers. From its concealment, like a beast of prey, it darts out suddenly on 

 its victims and seldom misses its mark. The Pike is even more destructive than 

 the Pickerel, and two of the latter, measuring 5 inches in length, have been reported 

 to eat more than 100 minnows in a day. Spawning takes place in winter and early 

 spring on shallows and frequently on overflowed meadows. The eggs are about 

 one-eighth inch in diameter, and a female weighing 32 pounds was estimated by 

 Buckland to contain 595,000. The young Pike has a very large yolk sac. The period 

 of hatching varies, with the temperature of the water, from 14 to 30 days. The 

 female is said to be larger than the male ; the fish breeds at the age of three years. 

 At the age of one year the fish may reach a length of 12 inches, and if well 

 supplied with food it will increase in weight from 2 to 3 pounds yearly. 



The Pike is a fairly good food fish and forms an important element of the Lake 

 Erie fisheries. As a game fish the species is widely known ; it can be readily caught 

 by trolli'ng or spinning or on lines set under the ice. Live minnows and frogs are 

 favorite baits; and Dr. Henshall says it will rise to a large, gaudy fly. In Lake 

 George the White Chub is one of the best known baits. 



