THE MASCALONGE IN WISCONSIN WATERS. 20$ 



would be an easy matter to propagate them, and it is to be 

 hoped that it may be tried at an early day. 



In June, 1888, I was at Big Twin lake, where I had caught 

 several large Mascalonge, and being informed that Lac Vieux 

 Desert was a good lake for these fish, I took Fred French 

 of Three Lakes and went over to investigate. 



We got there too late for much fishing that day, so we 

 waited till morning. We started out before breakfast and 

 trolled along the west shore, just outside of the rushes, for 

 about two miles, catching an occasional Bass, Pike or Pick- 

 erel, and when we got near what is locally known as '"Lunge 

 Point," all at once there was a fearful rush and commotion, 

 and we knew we had a big one. 



Down he went, taking line rapidly, until he must have 

 found the bottom in forty feet of water. Then up he came 

 clear out of water, his glistening sides sparkling in the rays 

 of the rising sun, shaking his ponderous jaws in a mighty 

 effort to get rid of the cruel barb. He was kept well in hand 

 and not allowed a foot of slack line. Three times he vaulted 

 clear out of the water, and fought like a tiger while in his ele- 

 rr.ent. The struggle was a long and determined one, but he 

 finally gave up, when Fred gaffed him and lifted him into the 

 boat. There he lay in all his beauty, his magnificent sides 

 rising and falling as he sought to breathe in the lighter ele- 

 ment. He had an ugly look in his eyes, that warned us to 

 keep clear of his rugged fangs. After admiring him some 

 minutes I told Fred this was glory enough for an early morn- 

 ing, and we bent our oars for camp. At the house our prize 

 tipped the beam at thirty-three pounds, good, honest weight. 

 After breakfast we started out again and before ten o'clock 

 returned with six Mascalonge, weighing seventy-two pounds, 

 one Pickerel of twelve pounds, one Large-mouth Bass, six 

 pounds, one Wall-eyed Pike of nine and a quarter pounds, 

 besides various other smaller fish, making a total weight of 

 one hundred and twenty pounds. I was tired out and said 

 to the guide that I had had sport enough for one day. 



