40 THE PIKES: DISTRIBUTION AND COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE. 



In the foregoing list Ohio appears to be the paramount State, 

 yielding nearly 40 per cent of the entire catch of the country, ail of 

 which was from Lake Erie waters. In 1899 the recorded catch of 

 pike and pickerel of Ohio in Lake Erie amounted to only 739 pounds, 

 valued at $38, showing the astonishing increase in nine years of over 

 a milhon pounds, with very httle increase in price per pound to 

 fishermen (about 1 cent). 



Pickerel. — In the census of 1908 only the Atlantic coast division 

 includes any appreciable quantity of pickerel, unless possibly New 

 York, which has been placed with the other divisions in this dis- 

 cussion upon the assumption that the bulk of the catch was of the 

 Great Lakes fisheries (Lake Erie and Lake Ontario), although some 

 Esox reticulatus are doubtless marketed from the St. Lawrence River 

 and some of the smaller lakes. 



In New England commercial fisheries for pickerel are permitted 

 only locally, being more or less protected as a sport fish. In 1898 

 there were 200 pounds recorded for Rhode Island and 5,420 pounds 

 for Connecticut. In 1899 Maine recorded 300 pounds. No statistics 

 are given for later dates except in Connecticut, which in 1902 yielded 

 8,230 pounds, valued at $530. 



The Atlantic division yielded 145,000 poimds, valued at $11,000, 

 most of which probably were Esox reticulatus, although some Esox 

 americanus may have been included. 



By States the catch was recorded as f oUows : 



Of the aforementioned States, statistics are available for Delaware 

 and Maryland for the years 1887, 1888, 1901, 1904, and 1908. 



The figures are given for pike, which, if they are not intended for 

 pike perch, doubtless indicate pickerel {Esox reticulatus) and possibly 

 Esox americanus. In these years, also. New Jersey, which in 1908 

 shows no yield at aU, has a comparatively large catch. The following 

 table is given for what it is worth : 



