MASCALONGE. 



From Photograph. 



Weight, 28 Lbs. 



Caught by W. D. Boyce, 



August, 1894. 



"For earliest sport try the waters in May, 

 The mascalonge then will be leaping in play; 

 But better, by far, is the fishing in June, 

 When weirdly re-echoes the cry of the loon; 

 Or, if you prefer the sweet by and by, 

 Bring the rod and the reel in sultry July." 



Chief among the members of the pike family is the mascalonge — a 

 giant in size and a game fish of high order. In Canada and along the 

 border line in the United States, the name "maskinonge" is much used, 

 and the fish in the other sections is variously known as " muskallonge," 

 " niasquinongy," etc. The derivation of the name is from the French 

 masque allonge ("long face"), the Chippewa term, " maskinonge," having 

 similar meaning. 



In size the mascalonge takes rank with the salmon, attainmg a weight 

 of from forty to fifty pounds, and Dr. E. Sterling records an instance of 

 having speared one, nearly fifty years ago, weighing eighty pounds Fish 

 of this species weighing twenty pounds are quite common, and specimens 

 of forty pounds weight are no rarity in suitable waters where fishing has 

 been indulged in only to a moderate degree. As a means of identifying 

 the mascalonge — which closely resembles the larger pike and pickerel in 

 certain respects— an angling authority states that the difference may be 

 easily detected by observing the gill covers. The lower half of cheek 

 and gill-cover in the mascalonge are destitute of scales, while the pike 

 has the cheek fully covered with scales, and in the pickerel it will be 

 observed that both cheek and gill cover are grown with scales. 



The range of this species is quite extensive, from the St. Lawrence 

 in the East to the upper Mississippi in the West, and southward to the 

 Tennessee River. It furnishes good sport to the angler, and as a food 

 fish is superior to other members of the pike family. Trolling with live 

 minnow or artificial bait is the favorite method of fishing for mascalonge, 

 and when taken with a bass-rod the play is exciting. The fish, particu- 

 larly in Wisconsin waters and in the St. Lawrence, leaps above the sur- 



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