THE MASCALONGE. 



BY DK. JAMES A. HENSHALL. 



Author of '■^ Book of the Black Bass,^^ '"'' More About the Black 



Bass,^^ etc. 



I ADOPT the name of Mascalonge for the largest and best 

 member of the Pike family as it seems to be the accepted 

 one with the majority of angling authors and anglers. 

 The derivation of the name is involved in much obscurity 

 and is ascribed to both Indian and P'rench origin. It has 

 been variously called Mascalonge, Muscalonge, Muskellunge, 

 Muskallonge, Maskinonje, Maskinonge, Masquinoiigy. etc., 

 etc. On the statutes of Canada it is spelled "Maskinonge," 

 and there is a county, and I believe a village, of that name in 

 the Dominion. Mr. Fred Mather has investigated the origin 

 and etymology of the word to a greater extent than any one 

 else, and he favors the Chippewa derivation of the name; 

 "Maskinonje," as opposed to the French derivation of 

 "Masque allonge," and its variations. But common consent 

 and custom has decreed among the majority of anglers, 

 as I said before, that it is "Mascalonge," and Mascalonge it 

 will be for generations to come. 



And lately there have been changes made in its scientific 

 name, both generic and specific. For many years the Masca- 

 longe has been known to naturalists and anglers as Esox 

 iiobilior — and a very good name by the way — but owing to 

 the inflexible law of priority, nobilior must stand aside for 

 viasquiiiongy, a name supposed to have been given by Dr. 

 Mitchill— but his original description cannot be found, though 



191 



