THE CHAIN PICKEREL 



THE chain pickerel is known under 

 various names; in the South it is 

 called jack; in some parts of the 

 North it is the federation pike, but to most 

 people it is known as the eastern pickerel. 

 It grows to a length of two feet and weighs 

 occasionally eight pounds, though the aver- 

 age is much smaller. 



The pickerel is the most numerous of all 

 the Esox family, which includes the great 

 northern pike and the muskellunge. All 

 are voracious, marauding tyrants, and do 

 not assemble in schools, but prefer to live to 

 wage war alone. 



It prefers dark and sluggish water, old 

 roots, tree trunks that are decayed and 

 muddy bottoms are its delight. Whenever 

 introduced into new waters, by its rapid 

 increase and voracious habits, it will soon 

 exterminate or drive away all other vari- 



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