FIFTY MUSKY 171 



anger to make him forget his sore molars and strike. 

 There have been some beautiful arguments started 

 among the fishermen who are still in the pan fish 

 stage of the game through the statement that the 

 musky loses his teeth each year; however, as late as 

 September tenth of last season I examined three 

 musky caught on that day and in the mouth of each 

 was a new set of sharp-edged teeth, firmly set, while 

 hanging loosely in the back were still the remains of 

 the old teeth which had not entirely parted company 

 with their owners. This was later than usual for 

 the old teeth to remain, as they are generally gone 

 by the first week in September and at times slightly 

 earlier than that. No doubt this law of nature is 

 the same one that governs the shedding of the skin 

 of the snake and the renewing of the horns of the 

 deer. At the same time of the year when the musky 

 is changing his teeth the pickerel or pike have a 

 swelling of the gums that puts them out of the fight- 

 ing game until the gums go back to normal. The 

 gums of the pike will often swell clear over the teeth 

 and they are very much inflamed and sore, making 

 eating some painful work. 



These conditions during the latter part of August 

 take the muskies off their feed, but when the mouth 

 is in good shape again they are more than anxious 

 to make up for the last time in filling the feed-bag 

 to excess. This hungry condition and the fine feel- 

 ing mouth, together with the pep gained from the 



