32 THE PIKES: DISTEIBUTION AND COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE. 



these facts are at the bottom of stated antagonistic behefs and recom- 

 mendations. The intricacies in pohtics involve even the fishes of 

 the waters. One State fish commissioner's report calls attention to 

 "much dissatisfaction regarding ice fishing. Many of our best 

 sportsmen claim that the fishing for pickerel in waters that have been 

 closed for a number of years is not as good to-day as before they were 

 closed, cUfferent theories being advanced as to the cause. " 



Those interested in the pickerel and pickerel fishing have been 

 forced to recognize that in a great many if not nearly all pickerel 

 waters, where they once abounded and attained a large size, they 

 have diminished in numbers and deteriorated in size. One or two 

 examples will serve as illustration of facts well known, at least 

 locally. As long ago as. 1898 the writer made some observations 

 and inquiries at Sebago Lake, Me. There an old resident fish- 

 erman informed him that pickerel were once abundant and of a 

 much larger size in the lake and some of its tributary waters. By 

 winter ice fishing they still caught some pickerel in the lake. Fish 

 weighing 3 or 4 pounds each and the year before one of 7 poimds 

 had been caught, but such fish were seldom seen in recent years. 

 The lower part of the Songo River also harbored many large fish, 

 but at this time one much over a pound in weight was a rarity. 

 The pickerel observed by the writer in this place were small, poor, 

 and often greatly emaciated, a fact that was surprising inasmuch as 

 small minnows were very numerous in the so-called "bogs" or bayous 

 where the pickerel were found. This latter fact is not easily ex- 

 plained, but the scarcity in both lake and Songo waters may be 

 accredited to excessive fishing, particularly in the whiter and in those 

 days when market fishing was permitted. This was possible, not- 

 withstanding the large size of the lake, owing to the fact that congenial 

 pickerel waters in the lake were limited in number and restricted in 

 area. The pickerel is supposed to have been indigenous to Sebago 

 waters. Another lake in which pickerel were introduced may be 

 cited as an example of deterioration. This is Umbagog Lake, the 

 lowermost of the famous Rangeley chain of lakes. Umbagog is the 

 only one inhabited by this fish, where they are reputed to have once 

 been abundant and of large size, but as early as 1883 there were 

 complaints of growing scarcity and the small size of the fish caught. 

 To all appearances the conditions are ideally favorable for pickerel, 

 which is supported by the fact of their former increase in number 

 and size. Observations made there m 1905 by the present writer 

 indicated that the claims of decrease and deterioration were true. 

 Some remarkable explanations have now and then been offered. 



There are two authentic reports of epidemic mortality among the 

 pickerel due to unknown causes. One explanation was that pickerel 

 had been suddenly frozen to death, but no explanation is offered 



