286 REPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



present. Professor Milner (i7, '72-3, 50) states that between 1830 

 and 1842, at Fort Gratiot, Michigan, a Mr Clarke took, in some years, 

 1,000 barrels of this fish 



The eggs measure about one-twelfth of an inch in diameter, and are 

 strongly adhesive. They are laid in early spring. In hatching houses 

 the young, if not fed, begin not many days after hatching to devour one 

 another. The eggs in our climate hatch about June 1. Smith (4, '92, 

 56) states that the eggs are deposited during April, near shore. 



Forbes (i^i No. 3, 32) found the food of the adults of this species to 

 consist wholly of fishes. Hickory shad, worthless for human food, 

 become, through the agency of the yellow pike, transformed into mate- 

 rials that are savory and nourishing. The young eat entomostraca and 

 small fishes. 



Stizostedion canadense (C. H. Smith). 

 Sanger; Sand Pike; Gray Pike. 



Stizostedium canadense, Jordan and Gilbert, 1882, 8, 526 ; 1884, 12, 

 424, pi. 169 ; Smith, 1892, 4, pi. 48. 



Body elongated, and but slightly compressed. Depth in. the length, 

 four and one-half to five and two thirds. Head long and pointed, in the 

 length, three and one-half times. Cheeks and opercles covered with 

 small ctenoid scales. Upper surface of the head more or less scaly. 

 Mouth large, the maxillary extending back beyond the pupil. Eye 

 small, five to six in head. Dorsal fin XHI-I, 18; anal, 11, 12. Pec 

 torals and ventrals extending little more than half-way to the vent. 

 Scales of body, about ninety-five along the lateral line. Color bra?sy, 

 the sides with dark blotches ; belly pale. Spinous dorsal with two or 

 three rows of round, dark spots. Anal and ventrals pale Base of 

 pectorals with a dark spot. May reach a length of a foot and a half, 

 usu illy smaller. 



Great Lakes to Ohio Valley and Dakota. Apparently not common 

 outside of the larger lakes, at least in Indiana. Franklin County (J, No. 

 2, U) ; Vigo County (16, 96) ; New Harmony, where I took a specimen 

 some years ago. 



This is also an excellent fish for the table, but it does not equal in 

 economical importance the yellow pike (S. vitreum). It does not grow 

 so large, and is apparently far less abundant. It seems strange that all 

 the reports of the occurrence of this fish in Indiana should come from 

 localities along the southern portion of the State. Nelson, in his cata- 

 logue of the fishes of Illinois (14, No. 1, 36), was uncertain whether or 

 not it occurred in Lake Michigan. 



Forbes (14, No. 3, 31) found thaf this species eats only other fishes, 

 and among these he found hickory shad, cat-fishes, sheepshead, and sun- 

 fishes. 



