464 NATURAL HISTORY OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



pounds, and it is there thought that they keep constantly in deep water and seldom approach the 

 shore. They are very salable and much sought after, but apparently nowhere abundant." 



THE COMMON PICKEREL Bsox RETICULATUS. 



This fish is known in the North always by the name of "Pickerel"; in the Southern States it 

 is usually the "Jack." It is found chiefly in the streams along the Atlantic coast, from Maine to 

 Alabama, it being generally abundant, especially in clear, grassy streams and ponds. It is not 

 found in the Lake region, nor west of the Alleghanies. It sometimes reaches a weight of seven 

 or eight pounds, but is usually much smaller. As a food-fish its rank is rather high; its flesh is 

 white and well flavored, but is rather dry and not very tender. It is, however, a very undesirable 

 fish for propagation, from its inordinate voracity. They are "mere machines for the assimilation 

 of other organisms." 



THE BROOK PICKERELS Esox AMERICANUS AND Bsox TTMBROSUS. 



These two small Pickerel are very abundant, the former in the coastwise streams east of the 

 Alleghanies, the latter in the Mississippi Basin. Neither reaches a length of much over a foot. 

 These have, therefore, little economic value, and from their voracity are undesirable inmates of 

 streams and ponds. 



THE MUSKELLTJNGE ESOX NOBILIOR. 



The following facts regarding the abundance of Muskellunge, Esox nobilior, in the Great Lakes 

 have been ascertained by Mr. Kumlien: 



Among the islands dotting the southwestern part of Lake Superior, including the Apostle 

 Islands, Sand, York, and Kock Islands, and others, this fish is caught in small quantities in the 

 pound-nets. The Muskellunge is occasionally caught in the small bays indenting the shore south 

 of Keweeuaw Point as far as Huron Bay, and with it a large and much lighter-colored fish that 

 may possibly be Esox lucius. This latter is not well known among the fishermen, but Mr. Edgertou 

 says he has often noticed it, and has remarked that the general aspect was different from that of 

 the Muskellunge. On the fishing grounds at the north end of Green Bay this is a rare fish, only 

 half a dozen or so being taken each year. When it occurs it is found at any and at no particular 

 point. Not a single specimen of this fish was taken by Mr. Nelson in ten years' fishing in the 

 Cedar River district, and Mr. Everland in thirty-six years has not taken half a dozen. They are 

 reported of occasional occurrence in the Menomonee River, but are not found in deep nets far out 

 in the bay. 



Lower down on the west coast of Green Bay, from Longtail Point to Peshtego Point, this fish 

 occurs everywhere, but nowhere in abundance. A specimen was taken at Washington Island in 

 1866 that weighed forty-four pounds. The fishermen of this stretch of coast-line pronounce it 

 Musk-ka-long. At Green Bay City this fish is caught frequently weighing forty pounds. It is 

 common at this point, i. e. the southern end of Green Bay. Ascending the eastern shore of Green 

 Bay as far as Saint Martin's Island the Muskellunge is very rare, beiug known by name only to 

 a great many of the fishermen. Following the western shore of Lake Michigan southward from 

 Porte des Mortes on the north as far south as Manitowoc this fish is rare. At Jacksonport two 

 have been taken in seven years. At Two Rivers only one has ever been recorded, viz., in 1878. 

 At Manitowoc it is less scarce, being caught sometimes in pound-nets and more frequently in the 

 river. At Milwaukee the Muskellunge occurs in the lake but rarely ; it is never caught in gill- 

 nets. In 1868 Mr. Schultz took one in a small seine, in the old harbor, weighing one hundred 

 pounds. This is believed by Mr. Kumlien to be a fact, having been testified to, as he says, "by so 

 many reliable persons." He adds: "Formerly, fish of this kind weighing eighty pounds were far 

 from rare." 



