A merican Game-Fishes 



can be investigated without unreasonable 

 delay or labor, and the situation of the fish 

 ascertained if they be in the humor for 

 either lure. Fly-fishing for bass has noth- 

 ing peculiar in it, save that the flies used 

 are usually large and showy, and the rod, 

 line, and gut proportionably heavier than 

 for trout-fishing. The fly is ordinarily 

 used with success only in moderately shal- 

 low water, and perhaps the same might 

 be said of minnow-casting; and in using 

 them early in the season, it is wise always 

 to make sure that the places where rises 

 are frequent are not the resting-place of 

 some belated spawners. The fly will have 

 done no real harm if you put the fish 

 back, but the minnow-hook may have 

 done irreparable damage. In case of 

 doubt, it is better to sheer off into deeper 

 water, and come again later in the season. 

 The pike family, which in Europe con- 

 tains a single species (Lucius facius}, is rep- 

 resented in our own country by at least 

 five, of which three are commonly con- 

 sidered game-fish ; namely, the common 

 green pickerel of the Eastern and Middle 

 States (L. reticulatus} ; the pike, the same 

 as the European fish ; and the maskin- 

 ongy, meaning, in Algonquin, great pike 

 (L. masquinongy], which is found chiefly in 

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