200 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



that the cognomen of this fish be "Esox Major." There 

 is still another, locally called "Spotted Mascalonge," which is 

 equal in size to the others above mentioned and as gamy as 

 they are. The three great fishes belonging to the Mississippi 

 waters will, in this article, be treated separately, to a certain 

 extent. 



*'Esox Nobilior," called also "Esox Estor," will not be con- 

 sidered carefully, but will be referred to occasionally. "Esox 

 Immaculatus" is found in many of the waters of the Missis- 

 sippi basin but not in all. It is found in the deep holes of 

 some of the tributaries, and especially in the waters flowing 

 into the Wisconsin River, and in the many lakes whose out- 

 lets lead into the last named stream. And it is to those 

 fishes that the reader's attention will be especially directed 

 herein. In nearly all of the lakes in northern Wisconsin, 

 which have outlets into the Wisconsin River, the "Esox Im- 

 maculatus," the Barred and the Spotted Mascalonge, are found 

 in abundance — the three appearing to be inseparable or 

 nearly so. The "Barred 'Lunge" is a large fish, and the most 

 plentiful, generally speaking. 



On the loth of February, 1890, I measured one which in 

 proportion was a fair specimen of the three kinds. Its length 

 was 46 inches; weight 26 pounds; end of tail to anus, 3 

 inches; anal fin to root of tail, 4 inches; dorsal fin to root 

 of tail, 5 inches; breadth of tail, 10 inches; end of nose to 

 pectoral fin, 9 inches; between pectoral fins and lower belly 

 fins, 1 3 inches ; end of nose to end of gills, 1 2 inches ; eye to end 

 of upper jaw, 5 inches; depth widest part, 9 inches; back 

 of head to eyes, 3 inches; spread of jaws, 6 inches; width of 

 head, top, 4 inches. This was a fair specimen, fresh from 

 the water. It was a female, full of eggs, which accounts for 

 its great depth. 



On the Barred "'Lunge" the bars are transverse, and com- 

 mence near the back and extend to the edge of the belly, 

 that is to say some of them do, while others go only part way» 



