A merican Game-Fishes 



the basin of the Great Lakes, and is the 

 finest fish of the group. The maskinongy 

 is often cautious, and not easy to entice ; 

 and after hooking, its weight, strength, 

 and alertness make it a worthy antagonist. 

 In waters about the Thousand Islands it 

 is considered a prize. The pike, if large, 

 often gives nearly as good sport, especially 

 if for the sake of plunder it has left its 

 favorite lakes or slack water, and dwells a 

 while in a rapid current of cold water. 

 But, on the whole, I have not found it a 

 very interesting fish. It sometimes makes 

 one or two good runs soon after hooking, 

 and, failing to break away, then comes 

 home. Its admirers speak of it as game 

 to the last, but I have not seen this pecu- 

 liarity. It surpasses all other fish in one 

 thing, the number of incredible tales of 

 which it is the subject. At the begin- 

 ning of the Christian era, the manufacture 

 of the legend of the mighty and voracious 

 pike was well established. The industry 

 is still continued, thrives without protec- 

 tion, and no trust as yet restricts its out- 

 put. 



Nor is the common pickerel a fish to 

 excite much enthusiasm. Yet in ponds 

 and streams not stocked with better fish, 

 it is an object of consideration. In cold, 



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