190 NORTHERN FISHES 



lakes in the vicinity of Grand Rapids, Park Rai)i(ls, and Leccli Lake. 

 Muskellunge have been t'onnd oecasionally in Lake Pepin and in the 

 Mississippi between Minneapolis and Brainerd. They are found in a 

 number of lakes and streams of northern Wisconsin. In both Minnesota 

 and Wisconsin their range is increasing through artificial propagation. 



Because of its reputation for fighting, the nuiskellunge is one of the 

 most highly prized game fishes. It is also one of the most rapidly grow- 

 ing fishes in the northern states. Minnesota specimens reach a length 

 of 12 inches in the first 4 months of life. Muskellunge often reach 25 to 

 30 pounds in weight, and records of muskellunge weighing well over 

 50 i)ounds occur annually. 



Muskellunge are entirely carnivorous. Their food consists largely of 

 suckers, perch, and other fishes. Muskellunge reared in tanks at the 

 LTniversity of Minnesota fed on water fleas for the first week of life, 

 but thereafter refused such small fry and would feed only on small 

 suckers and other fishes. If they were without food for an hour they 

 would start slashing at one another. Almost the only losses that occurred 

 in the rearing experiments were due to cannibalism. In two months they 

 had reached a length of 6 inches and were each consuming from 10 to 15 

 minnows a day. Their movements were exceedingly swift. They would 

 stalk their prey, poise, and then dart faster than the eye could follow 

 and swallow their prey with one gulp. If the victim happened to be 

 a large fish one slash was sufficient to sever the tail of the unlucky 

 victim. 



The muskellunge spawn later than the northern pike, usually during 

 the first part of May. Ordinarily they spawn in tributary streams and 

 shallow lake channels, rather than in weeds as the northern pike does. 



Late-maturing northern pike have been reported as spawning with 

 muskellunge. Further evidence of hybridization has been found in the 

 occasional appearance of specimens bearing muskellunge markings but 

 having ten mandibular pores. In 1939-41 a large number of muskellunge 

 eggs were successfully fertilized with northern pike milt at the Nevis 

 Hatchery. Northern pike eggs were likewise successfully fertilized 

 with muskellunge milt. Part of the resulting young fish were reared in 

 the vicinity of the Nevis Hatchery. Others were removed to the Uni- 

 versity of Minnesota and reared in tanks and ponds. This experiment 

 indicated that muskellunge easily hybridize with northern pike and 

 probably often do so in nature. The hybrids grew much faster for the 

 first year than either the purebred muskellunge or the northern pike, 

 but in sulisequcnt years little difference in growth was noted. However, 

 the hybrids always exhibited much greater vitality and had a much 

 lower mortality rate. 



A comparison of the hylirids with 39 Minnesota specimens of mus- 

 kellunge and 200 northern pike showed that the hybrids had some 

 distinctive morphological characters. Ninety-one per cent of the hy- 



