114 THE PIKE 



Linnaeus) ; (2) the pickerel (Lucius reticulatus, Le 

 Sueur) ; and (3) the maskinonge (Lucius Masquinongy, 

 Mitch.). The American pike is to all intents and 

 purposes the Esox lucius of the old world, and dis- 

 tinctly different from the other fish with which it is 

 vulgarly confused and which is called the pickerel. 

 At home the word ' pickerel ' is occasionally used to 

 signify the very smallest form of jack, and it is used 

 in the same sense as one would use the word ' pikelet ; ' 

 but in America it is an actual variety. The markings 

 of the pike, as the reader is well aware, are of white 

 blotches irregularly dotted on an olive-yellow skin. 

 The pickerel, which never reaches the size of large pike, 

 is marked with black veinings running laterally and 

 assuming the form of irregular loops. It is a very 

 handsome little fish, and but for its appearance has 

 the same characteristics as other members of the 

 family. 



The maskinonge is a right noble member of the 

 family and probably the largest of it. There seems 

 to be no doubt that Esox nobilior, as he used to 

 be classified, is somewhat limited in his geographical 

 range. I have seen him caught from the St. Law- 

 rence River, and he is known to attain such weights 

 as 60 Ib. in the Great Lake range. An experi- 

 ence of my own, which I will presently relate, leads 



