34 MARINE AND FISHERIES 



5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 



Family umbridae. 



(Mudfishes) 



Umbra limi, Kirtland, 



(Mudfish. Mud-minnow) 



{Plate II, fig. 16) 



Taken in the smaller inland ponds and in the muddiest parts of shore swamps. 

 It thrives in the most uninviting puddles, in association with sticklebacks, tad- 

 poles and newt larvae. 



Length commonly to 2\ inches, one specimen of 3j inches. Body stout and 

 compressed, caudal peduncle deep. Depth 4*2 to 4 '8 in the length. Head 

 rather heavy, its length 3*1 to 3*2. Mouth terminal, rather flattened. Eye 

 3*3 to 4-4, General coloration yellow or olive, but with the ground color almost 

 obscured by dark mottlings, which foim about 14 indistinct vertical bars. The 

 sides show bluish and green reflections. A lateral stripe showing in most specimens, 

 and a faint band through the opercle, eye, and snout. Ventral surface pale. Fins 

 all with rounded margins, and with minute transverse striations on the rays. 

 Dorsal placed far back near the caudal, 14 or 15 rays. Anal with 9 or 10, some- 

 times 8, rays. Scales rounded, 12 to 14 in oblique row from front of dorsal to anal. 

 34 to 36 in horizontal series. Imbedded scales on top of head, and large scales 

 on opercles. 



Family luciidae. 



(Pikes) 



Represented by two species, characteristic of northern waters generally; 

 separable as follows: 



a. Cheeks scaled, opercles with scales only on the upper half. Ground color dark, 

 with yeUow or white spots on sides lucius. 



aa. Both cheeks and opercles bare of scales below. Ground color light, with dark 

 vertical or oblique bars and spots masquinongy. 



Lucius lucius, Linnaeus. 

 (Common pike) 



Abundant in all places on the main shore of Georgian Bay and in the river 

 courses. It inliabits weedy swamps and channels, where it lurks among the weeds, 

 darting forth from time to time to capture small fishes such as black bass, rock- 

 bass, perch or minnows. Small specimens of all stages of growth aie taken in 

 the shore swamps, but are not abundant. The fish is of some commercial value 

 in those parts of the shore where inshore net-fishing is permitted, but it is not a 

 fish that is greatly respected by anglers. As commonly taken it is from 3 to 6 

 lbs. in weight, but specimens of 15 lbs. are not infrequently captured. 



