THE COMMON PICKEREL. 183 
voracious habits, lie has soon exterminated all other varie- 
ties. Even excellent trout ponds have been treated in 
this way. 
The largest of these fish within my range of informa- 
tion, are taken in Long Pond, New Jersey, a large pond, 
originally a natural lake, and rendered more extensive 
by damming. The head-waters are filled with dead 
trees, amid the roots of which pickerel hide and thrive. 
There they are said to attain ten pounds, and often exceed 
five. Generally, however, five is the limit, and many 
more are taken that weigh not over three. These fish 
are not found in the waters of Canada, and are usually 
captured with live or dead bait, or a piece of pork, 
although in favorable water they would undoubtedly 
take the spoon, like their congeners of the north. Their 
habits are similar to those of the northern pickerel and 
mascallonge. 
