THE PIKES: DISTRIBUTION AND COMMERCIAL IMFOETAITCE. 19 



According to Chambers (1896), in the Lake St. John region many 

 of them far exceed in weight the generally accepted limit of size of 

 the ordinary Esox lucius, sometimes attaining the weight of 20, 30, 

 and even 40 pounds. One was taken in Lake Tschotagama in 1890 

 which weighed 49 pounds and another in 1891 of 47 pounds. In 

 1892 one was caught in the Peribonca River which weighed 35 pounds. 



Herbert (1849), referring to the pike, said that specimens of the 

 northern pickerel may be found which weigh as high as 16 or 17 

 pounds, but that weight is rarely exceeded. 



Forbes (1908) stated that the average weight of the pike in Illinois 

 waters is not over 5 pounds, but a specimen weighing 26^ pounds was 

 reported by Dr. Jordan to have been caught in the Kankakee, and 

 Tomlin (1892) wrote that specimens have been taken in Michigan 

 and along the bays connecting with the north shore of Lake Superior 

 which weighed as high as 20 pounds. 



HABITAT AND HABITS. 



Habitat. — The pike chooses its spring and summer haunts by 

 preference in shallow inlets with weedy bottoms and shores over- 

 grown with reeds and rushes. Toward autumn it betakes itself to 

 precipitous, stony shores, which it again forsakes when winter is 

 at hand and the inlets freeze. Most of the pike then return to their 

 summer stations, but the larger ones seemingly follow the shoals 

 of other fishes to the depths, being seldom caught during the winter 

 in shallow water. For these a more plentiful supply of food is, no 

 doubt, necessary than shallows afford in winter. When the pike 

 has chosen its station for the season, it restricts its wanderings to the 

 immediate neighborhood, leading a soUtary life and never being seen 

 in company except during the spawning. (Smitt, 1892.) 



According to Preble (1908), in the far North it is much less common 

 in the muddy rivers than in clear lakes, and the pools at the foot of 

 falls or rapids are favorite haunts. Forbes (1908) said it prefers 

 clean, clear, cool water with a sluggish current, in which it remains 

 generally quiet by day. 



Habits.— TovQ^m (1892) wrote: 



It is a powerful fish and is no coward ; it will fight as viciously as a terrier. We have 

 seen small pike with jaws locked and lashing the water around them like a boiling 

 caldron. Occasionally letting go and backing out, they would rush at each other 

 with open jaws and keep up the fight until one is beaten and driven away or until 

 later on exhausted. Some years ago I found two dead, with both jaws fast set so that 

 they could not be pulled open. Both of them were handsome male fish and must 

 have fought fiercely, for their bodies were cut all along the sides and bellies. 



Feeding. — The pike is undoubtedly the most voracious among the 

 fresh-water fishes. It devours indiscriminately other fishes, young 

 waterfowl, small mammals, and carrion. From the dense bed of 

 grass or rushes, where it usually passes the day in stationary watch. 



