278 FISHING IN AMERICAN WATEKS. 



Having heard many anglers state that they could not dis- 

 tinguish the maskinonge from the pickerel, I invite them to 

 look at the diversities. The mandibles of the former are 

 longer, the tail more forked and larger, the dark gray back 

 and light sides are dotted in black, the outline of the fish is 

 more delicate and elegant, presenting the appearance of 

 greater refinement and higher breeding than the pickerel or 

 pike. The surface differences are palpable, but they are not 

 so marked as are the epicurean qualities. The meat of the 

 maskinonge is compact, white, tender, and peculiarly delicate 

 and rich in flavor, without partaking of any taint of extrane- 

 ous substance such as decayed wood and bark, which so com- 

 monly affect the flavor of pickerel, and even trout. This 

 proves that the maskinonge inhabits springs; and when 

 taken in lakes where surface-water is supposed to preponder- 

 ate, is always found at points where the fountains gush from 

 the bottom. 



THE MASKINONGE. 



Rice Lake, twelve miles north of Coburg, in Canada, con- 

 tains favorite feeding-grounds for the maskinonge. Its nu- 

 merous springs, its beds of wild rice miles in length, forming 

 a ground shade, its row of islands rising high above the level 

 of the lake, covered with dense forests of lofty trees in whose 

 shade the fish disport near the fountains, make this their fa- 

 vorite resort. These attractions, and the rivers which feed 

 the lake and teem with shiners and other tiny baits, render 

 Rice Lake remarkable for containing maskinonge which are 

 equal in game qualities to any known in America ; and I be- 

 lieve the fish has never been discovered in any water of the 

 eastern hemisphere. 



This fish often attains to nearly seven feet in length, and 



