110 REPOET OF ONTARIO GAME No. 52 



turbulent waters of the Soo Rapids, where the fish is now to be found in 

 considerable quantities and already the fame of the fish in this particu- 

 lar locality is becoming widely knoAvn. It is to be noted also that as a 

 table food the rainbow trout ranks second to none among the sporting 

 fishes. 



DISTRIBUTION AND CHIEF CHARACTERISTICS OF OTHER 



FISHES WHICH PROVIDE SPORT AND AMUSEMENT 



TO MANY ANGLERS. 



The Pike. 



The common or northern pike, sometimes known as the Jackflsh, 

 is distributed throughout the Province wiierever there are sufficient 

 weeds to afford it shelter, from the extreme north in the Hudson Bay 

 watershed to the great lakes in the south, and from eastern portions of 

 the Province to the Rainy River District. It is a most voracious fish, 

 feeding upon any form of animal life which it is able to overpower. It 

 has been known to attain a very great size under favourable circum- 

 stances, but in those waters which are the more generalh^ fished to-day 

 it has been pursued to such an extent that specimens much in excess of 

 10 IbK. are now comparatively rare. The fish spawns in the early spring, 

 as soon as the ice moves out, running up on to the rush beds or Khallow, 

 grassy places for that purpose. The females are most prolific. In gen- 

 eral the pike is to be found in amongst the weeds, or in clo^se vicinity 

 thereto, lying as a rule concealed in them and darting out from its hid- 

 ing place on any smaller form of animal life that passes within its range. 

 The voracity of the pike renders its presence somewhat undesirable in 

 t>hose water-s in which the finer classes of sporting fishes are to be found, 

 but even in these instances, its size in particular renders it attractive 

 to many anglers, while in other localities, more especially in some of 

 the waters of the Hudson Bay watershed, it is frequently the only fish 

 capable of affording Kport to would-be anglers. 



The pike is not as a rule accorded the rank of a sporting fish, but 

 this is to be attributed largely to the fact that most of the angling for 

 it occurs in the summer months when it is lying inactive amongst the 

 weeds and, in consequence, is comparatively weak and flabby. In the 

 aiutumn when the weeds have died down and this wolf of the waters is 

 compelled to hunt for its prey in the open, it becomes a different fish, 

 lean, active and muscular, and it is no exaggeration to say that at such 

 times a large specimen will tax the skill and endurance of an expert 

 angler to their uttermost and provide him with most excellent sport. 

 Even, however, in the summer months, when it becomes quickly 

 exhausted, the first rush and savage tugging of the fish at the line will 

 Btir the pulses of those who enjoy the sport of angling. It is most 



