90 Thirtieth Annual Meeting 



THE PROPAGATION OF MUSKELLUNGE IN 

 WISCONSIN. 



]5Y JAMES XEVIK. 



The nuiskellunge is the largest of our fresh-water game fish^ 

 and as he was endowed by his creator with great size, in like 

 manner, he was given liberally of those excellent game qualities 

 which appeal to the sportsman. From a gastronomic standpoint 

 he has few equals among fresh water fish. To the frequenters of 

 the great fishing resorts of ISTorthern Wisconsin there is no 

 attraction so great as the capture of this king of fresh water fish. 

 His great size, vigorous game spirit, and superior tal)le qualities 

 combine to make him a prize worthy the effort of the most exact- 

 ing disciple of Walton. Many anglers come for hundreds of 

 miles with the one idea of capturing this fish, and few sports- 

 men are content to leave our northern waters till they have put 

 at least one of these fine fishes to their score. The fish is worth}^ 

 all the effort that is given to its capture ; for, to say nothing of 

 the pleasural)le excitement incident to catching it, it has a table 

 value not excelled by any other large fish of our fresh waters. 

 By some it is properly ranked in quality next to the salt water 

 salmon. 



For many years, since tlie wilderness of Northern Wisconsin 

 was opened by the railways and by Imnbering operations; with 

 the advent of the comforts and conveniences which the railroad 

 takes into a new country, and the encroachment of the settler 

 and summer hotel on the primitive banks of our northern lakes, 

 the ])ursuit of the inuskt'lluiigc has heen constant and relentless. 

 Its utter extermination has l)een well nigh accomplished in many 

 of our lakes to which it is indigenous; and nearly all of our 

 waters have heen cleared of this fish to siu-li an extent that its 

 future has heconu' a matter of much concern to sportsmen, fish 

 culturists and others interested in keeping our waters well 

 stocked with sujH'rior game lisb. 



Under tliese circumstances it has devolved upon the State 

 Fish Commission to attempt the preservation and increase of 



