FOREST, LAKE, AND RIVER 



belly and black fins. They are not found in New 

 England waters, except in Lake Champlain, but 

 will doubtless become comparatively numerous by 

 planting, as in many of the lakes of Maine a conge- 

 nial habitat exists for them. In Canada, however, 

 they are abundant in many waters. The maximum 

 growth is said to be about five feet in length, with 

 a weight of one hundred pounds. 



The common pike, called "pickerel" in many 

 localities, are abundant in eastern North American 

 waters, ranging south as far as New York and 

 northward to the Arctic Ocean. On the Pacific 

 slope they are found in Alaska, and in Asia, in 

 Siberia. There are no anatomical differences of a 

 permanent character between the American and 

 European species. 



The pike may be distinguished from its con- 

 gener, the mascalonge, by the whitish or yellowish 

 spots on its body, arranged somewhat in rows, and 

 a peculiar marking, a V-shaped speck, on each 

 scale of the gill-cover, and sometimes on the 

 upper part of the body. This fish grows to a 

 length of four feet and a weight sometimes exceed- 

 ing fifty pounds. 



There is a little pickerel — Lucius americanus — 

 which seldom exceeds the length of twelve inches ; 

 it is very abundant in waters from Massachusetts to 

 4 



