THE CASTER'S QUARRY 135 



by the following formula: Pike Cheeks entirely 

 scaled but only upper half of gill covered ; lower half 

 naked. Spots always lighter than ground colon, 

 Pickerel Both cheeks and gill covers entirely scaled. 

 Muskellunge Upper part of cheeks and gill covers 

 scaled ; lower half naked. If spotted, spots are always 

 darker than ground color. 



THE PIKE-PERCH 



This fish is known by a number of names, such as 

 wall-eyed pike, pickerel, yellow pike, blue pike, dore, 

 jacksalmon, okow, and blow fish, but the term pike- 

 perch is the most appropriate because it designates its 

 pike-like form and it is a member of the perch family. 



This fish is widely distributed, being found through- 

 out the Great Lakes region, in several streams east 

 of the Alleghenies, in small lakes in New York, and 

 in many lakes and streams in the Mississippi valley. 

 Commercially it is most abundant in Lake Erie, where, 

 strange to say, it is called "pickerel." It is olive brown 

 yellow or dull blue in color, with lighter underparts. 

 Its eye is large and glassy. It ranks among the very 

 best as a food fish, its flesh being white, flaky, and of 

 a fine flavor. 



The pike-perch inhabits deep cold water and pre- 

 fers gravelly or rocky bottom. In lakes, it will usual- 

 ly be found in the deep pools or near spring holes, 

 while on the stream its favorite feeding-places are at 

 the foot of the rapids, below dams, log-jams, etc. 



