GENERAL DESCEIPTION. 233 



THE LONG ISLAND PICKEREL. 



Esox Fasciatus — Dekay. 



Long Island Pickerel. 



This, which is the smallest and most insignificant of the 

 family, so far as its sporting or epicurean qualities are con- 

 cerned, was first distinguished and named by Dr. Dekay, of 

 New York. 



Its principal characteristic is the very remarkable size of its 

 scales, which, in most of the family, even in the enormous 

 Mascalonge, are very minute and slender. 



In this little denizen of the running brooks and clear Trout 

 ponds of Long Island, their scales are larger than in any other 

 of the family, so as to make it resemble, in that particular, 

 some of the Cyprinidce, rather than its own tribe. 



In other respects, size excepted, it differs little from the 

 other Pike, which follow the type of the Northern Pickerel, 

 rather than that of the Mascalonge, to which variety it belongs ; 

 as is readily seen in the short snout, straight lower jaw, of 

 this small fish, the latter carrying its teeth, of full size, quite 

 round the fore part of the jaw. 



The Long Island Pickerel rarely, if ever, in those waters, 

 exceeds a pound weight, and that is greatly above the average, 



