400 



Roosrrclt Wild Life Annals 



In the spring, as noted under discussion of life history, this fish comes to 

 shallow water as a preliminary to spawning (Hankinson, 'oS, p. 209). The young 

 linger in pools of the marshy breeding grounds (Allen, '13, p. 58). Dyniond 

 '26, p. yT,) says that in Lake Ni]iigon it resorts to deep water, 60-100 feet, in 

 summer. 



Food. .\ few Lake Pickerel caught in Oneida Lake have been opened to 

 determine the nature of their food. The following table shows the food of eight 

 specimens. 



Kendall ('17, p. 19) says that the Pike is undoubtedly the most voracious 

 among the fresh-water fishes and that it devours indiscriminately other fishes, 

 young waterfowl, small mammals and carrion. And further: "From the dense bed 

 of grass or rushes, where it usually passes the day in stationary watch, it pounces 

 with the speed of an arrow on its unwary victims. It almost always seizes its prey 

 crosswise and retains its hold until the latter is dead or so exhausted as to desist 

 from all struggles. Then the pike turns the prize in its jaws till the head ])oints 

 toward the interior of its mouth and commences its meal." 



Forbes and Richardson ('09, p. 208) say of its food and feeding: "It is a 

 strong and active swimmer, extremely voracious, and with senses remarkably acute. 

 It launches itself like an arrow upon its prey, seldom missing its aim, and fighting 

 courageously with others of its kind. It is purely carnivorous, its food consisting 

 of fishes among which we have noticed sunfish and black bass, together with frogs, 

 crawfishes, and the larger insects. Mice, reptiles, and young ducks have been 

 reported by various authors to have been taken from the stomachs of pike." 



Pearse ('18, p. 258) examined the food of thirty-six individuals of this species, 

 measuring from near two inches to about thirty-five inches and averaging about a 

 foot in length. 84% of the food was fish; about 6jX'^(' in.sect material and 

 the rest largelv entomostracans. leeches, and mollusks. The small ones eat 

 invertebrates while the adults live nearlv .iltogi'thcr cm fish. Ilankiiison ('08, 



