FISHES OP VERMONT. 597 



as the waters subside and recede from the coves, they have the power, by a spring- 

 ing motion, of transporting themselves from one little puddle to another. They also 

 have the power of partially burying themselves and living in the mud and among 

 the moist grass roots, after the other small fishes associated with them are all dead 

 for the want of water. In these, situations vast numbers of them are devoured by 

 birds, nuiskrats, and foxes. In severe droughts, like that of 1841, the quantity of 

 small lishes which die in consequence of the drying up of the coves is exceedingly 

 great. In one small cove, which I visited on the 24th of September, 1S41, I found 

 mudfishes and other small fishes dead in piles in the low places which had become dry. 

 One small portion of the cove, still covered with water and leaves to the depth of t 

 or 5 inches, was literally tilled with tishes struggling together for existence. This 

 portion amounted to about one square rod, and in this space there could not have 

 been much less than a barrel of fishes. They consisted of pickerel, yellow perch, 

 shiners, bullpouts, and mudfishes, but mostly of the two last. My feelings were 

 really pained at the sight, and, moved by compassion for the poor fishes, I heartily 

 wished for rain, which, on the next day, came in abundance, to the joy not only of 

 the tishes and their sympathizers, but of the whole country." 



Family LUCIID.53. The Pikes. 



36. Lucius reticulatus (LeSueur). Pickerel. 



Our collection contains a tine example of this species, weighing 3 pounds, for 

 which wo are indebted to the skill and kinduess of Mr. J. F. Lincoln, who took it 

 while trolling in Missisquoi Bay, duly 20. 



Mr. Titcomb writes us that "Lucius reticulatus is common on both sides of the 

 Green Mountains. When it gets into our ordinary trout lakes or ponds it means 

 extermination to the trout. If bullheads follow the pickerel in waters where food 

 is not abundant, the pickerel gradually grow less in numbers. One informant says 

 he has found the reticulatus dead on the surface of the water with bullheads in 

 them, and that the latter often kill the fish which swallow them." 



According to Thompson, this is the common pickerel east of the Green Mountains, 

 as the next species is the more common on the west side : 



" This is the common pickerel on the east side of the Green Mountains in Vermont, 

 as the preceding species is on the west side. It is found in Connecticut River and 

 most of its larger tributaries, and it has multiplied exceedingly in several ponds to 

 which it has been transported by the inhabitants in the neighborhood. This is the 

 common pickerel of Massachusetts and the other Xew England States." 



37. Lucius lucius (Linmeus). Common Pike ; Pickerel. 



This is a common fish in Vermont, especially in the western part. It is usually 

 called pickerel, but toward the north end of the State and in Canada it is generally 

 called pike. Two line examples were obtained by us in Missisquoi Bay. It seems 

 to be common in Lakes Memphremagog and Champlain, and is one of the principal 

 species taken in gill nets when used. They are also caught by trolling and are 

 considered good game fish by many. They spawn in the spring, when they come 

 out into the marshes for that purpose. 



Mr. Thompson says: 



"This species is very common iu Lake Champlain and in all its larger tributaries 

 It is generally known in Vermont by the name of pickerel. About the north end of 

 the lake and in Canada generally it is called the pike, on account of its resemblance 

 to the English pike. Indeed, the resemblance is so close that Dr. Richardson regards 

 them as identical, and has described our pike in his Fauna Boreali-Americaua, under 

 the name of the foreign species Esox lucius, but they are generally regarded by 

 naturalists as distinct species. This fish grows to a large size, frequently exceeding 

 30 inches in length and weighing 10 or 12 pounds. It is very voracious and devours 

 great numbers of reptiles and small fishes. It is taken both with the hook and 

 seine, and is considered a very good tish for the table. The fishermen sav that there 



