THE FISHES OF NEW JERSEY. 175 
A single genus of fresh-water fishes reaching some size and 
of value as food. Their flesh is excellent, being white and flaky 
and of delicate flavor. The pike is noted for its voracity, aptly 
quoted from Thoreau as “mere machines for the assimilation of 
other organisms.” ‘Two species within our limits. 
Genus Esox Linnzeus. 
The Pikes. 
Key to the species. 
a. Eye nearer tip of mandible than edge of gill-opening; scales 105 to 108; 
branchiostegals II to 13. AMERICANUS 
aa. Eye midway in head; scales 125; branchiostegals 14 to 16. RETICULATUS 
Esox americanus (Gmelin). 
Pike. Pickerel. Ditch Pike. Short Billed Pike. Mud Pike. 
Banded Pickerel. 
rend. 337: depin 5745.4), Vost2: A: V,) Tl eeccalec al Goya 
lateral line to base of caudal; 12 scales between origin of dorsal 
and lateral line; 11 scales between lateral line and origin of anal; 
mandible 2 in head; fourth developed dorsal ray 2%; fifth de- 
veloped anal ray 234; lower caudal lobe 17¢; least depth of 
caudal peduncle 424; pectoral 214; ventral 234; snout 2% in 
head measured from tip of upper jaw; eye 7; maxillary a trifle 
less than 2; interorbital space 5; branchiostegals 13. Body 
elongate, compressed and rather robust. Head heavy, compressed 
posteriorly. Snout rather broad, depressed, and maxillaries pro- 
truding laterally. Eye high, a little anterior, and a little longer 
than deep. Mandible protruding a little beyond tip of upper jaw. 
Maxillary not quite reaching posterior margin of pupil. ‘Teeth 
moderately large, those in front of upper jaw and several along 
side of each ramus of mandible a little enlarged. Teeth on tongue 
minute. Nostrils smiilar, rather large, close together in last 
third of snout. Interorbital space flat. Side of mandible with a 
broad thin labial fold. Gill-rakers as a series of very fine or 
minute asperities. Scales small, smaller on breast and at bases 
