402 Roosevelt Wild Life .-iuiials 



as noted in the tal)le above, had many cestodes in their stomachs. AJarshall and 

 Gilbert ('05, p. 518) examined thirty-five of this species from Lake Mendota, 

 Wisconsin, taken during April, May and November. Every fish contained some 

 parasites, but those taken in spring were much freer from them than were those 

 caught in November. Trematodes were found infesting the mouth, gullet and 

 stomach. These were nearly all A::ygia tercticollc (Leidy). Other trematodes 

 that have been found in Esox Lucius in North America are Phyllodistomum folium 

 (Olfers), recorded by Stafford ('04, p. 492) ; and Centrovarium lobatcs (MacCal- 

 lum) (see Ward, '18, p. 401, and Stafford, '04, p. 493). LaRue ('26, p. 285, 

 and Butler, '19, p. 116) foimd larval trematodes in the eyes of Esox Indus taken 

 in Douglas Lake, Michigan. The cestode Proteocephalus pinguis LaRue ( Ward, 

 '18. p. 437) is found in the Pike; also a nematode, Neocchiiwrhynchus tencllus 

 (Van Cleave, I.e., p. 546). Wilson ('16, p. 339) notes two copepod parasites from 

 this fish, Argulus versicolor Wilson, and Ergasilus; and also glochidia of the mussel 

 Quadrula plicata, infesting the gills of the Pike. Needham ('22, p. 65) notes their 

 decrease in number through disease in Lake George, and Sibley ('22, p. yj) men- 

 tions the same fact, with the further information that the epidemic reached its 

 height in 1919, when the number of dead pike floating on the surface of the lake 

 was very great. 



Economic Rclalioiis. The relative importance of the Pike as a food and game 

 fish in our waters is a subject on which anglers and fishermen disagree, and is 

 surely worth a special investigation. Like the Chain Pickerel, it destroys many 

 other fish, but on account of its larger size and its wider geographical distribution, 

 it is the more important destroyer of fish of the two. In Oneida Lake, however, 

 it is not nearly so abundant as the Chain Pickerel and hence is of less economic 

 importance there. In bodies of water where suckers, large minnows and other 

 "rough fish" thrive and where black bass or trout d" not tiiid suitable conditions, 

 the Pike may be a very desirable species, and bodies of water containing them have 

 attractions for anglers; but in trout streams and other waters where better game 

 fish thrive, the species may be positively detrimental. Kendall ('24, p. 236) 

 stresses the importance of studying the species in water where it is found, before 

 condemning it, since it may have beneficial or harmful relations in different regions 

 depending upon the conditions in each. Embody ('22, p. 16) considers large pike 

 detrimental to angling in Cayuga Lake, because it destroys smaller fish of its own 

 species as well as of other species, particularly the Yellow Perch. He advises per- 

 mitting commercial fishermen to remove the large fish when advisaltlc to do sn. 

 Before introducing Pike in any region, therefore, nnuh atlcniicm >h(inlil lie 

 given to its jirobablc effect on the fish already ])resent. 



The flesh .,f the I'ike is finn an.l palatable, hut nnt ..Iten liighlv relished. 

 It is better fnr Inud diirin.u the o.ld seasons ,it the year. Kendall I '17. ]k J4 > 

 notes that it can lie kejit for a long time in a salted or dried condition. 



A)igli)ig. When hooked the Pike is a jiowerful and persistent fighter and on 

 this account it is much sought by anglers. Trolling is the usual method employed 

 in taking it. Si)oon hooks awl other arlitieial baits, minnows or other small tish. 

 especially those wiiii silvery siik's. and fnigs are used in trolling in shallow, mar- 

 ginal waters where this iish commonly rests. es]ieci;dly about water lilies or other 



