PIKE AND CHUB. 41 



belly white, and the head of a brownish color, mot- 

 tled with green. This fish is taken in great abun- 

 dance in some of the Western lakes and rivers, in- 

 cluding the Susquehanna and its tributary streams, 

 and in the valley of the Mohawk is called the Mo- 

 hawk pike. He is exceedingly voracious, and with 

 proper tackle and bait is easily caught. A bass rod 

 and tackle is the proper one, with Limerick salmon 

 hook Nos. 4 or 5. The bait should be a live minnow 

 or shiner. The size of the fish varies from ten to 

 twelve inches in length, weighing from two or three 

 pounds to ten, twelve and even twenty pounds. In 

 rivers they frequent the neighborhood of swift run- 

 ning water, and in lakes they are found in deep holes, 

 and under weeds, stumps, &c. The yellow pike is 

 an excellent table fish, and highly prized at the 

 West, where they are caught in great abundance. 

 It spawns in April and May. 



The Chub. 



This fish is not very common, and being exceed- 

 ingly timid and scary, is seldom taken except by ex- 

 perienced anglers. He is found in the streams and 

 ponds of Western Massachusetts, in Otsego Lake, 

 N. Y., the Passaic river, N. J., and in some parts of 

 Pennsylvania. He conceals himself in deep holes, 

 under projecting ledges of rocks, roots of trees, &c., 

 and to fish for him successfully, it is necessary to get 

 a position near some such place as one of these. The 

 chub has a large head, greenish back, silvery sides, 



