FISHES OF NEW YORK 303^ 



and its meaning is uncertain, though the roots, according to- 

 H. W. Henshaw, are probably mask (ugly) and Mnonge (fish). In 

 the books it appears as muscalonge, muskellunge, muskallunge,. 

 mascalonge and maskinonge, all variations of the same term. 

 Some writers style it the great pike, and by others it is confused 

 with the common pike, E. lucius. Prof. Cope mentions also, 

 the name blue pike. 



The mascalonge is recorded by Prof Cope from Conneaut lake, 

 Crawford co. Pa., the specimen measuring 17 inches in circum- 

 ference behind the eyes. It is found occasionally in the Ohio 

 valley. The species, however, is most abundant in the Great 

 lakes region. In Lake Erie favorite localities are Dunkirk and 

 Barcelona N. Y., Erie Pa. and Milk' Grove O. The northern 

 limit of the fish is not definitely fixed. 



It is asserted by some persoms that the fish inhabits Cayuga 

 lake, but others deny this. Dr Meek was unable to find it there 

 aft^r diligent search. It was known in Lake Champlain niore 

 than a half century ago and was described by Rev. Zadock 

 Thompson. Mitchill and Kirtland had it from Lake Erie. De 

 Kay confounded the mascalonge with the pike, and apparently 

 had no example of the former. In the St Lawrence river the 

 species is well known. 



It is recorded that in 1865 Mr Schultz caught a mascalonge at 

 Milwaukee weighing 100 pounds. In 1864 Fred Alvord declared 

 that he had an 85 pound specimen in Maumee bay. The average 

 length of the species is about 3 feet, and there is reason to 

 believe that a length of 8 feet is sometimes reached. Individuals 

 weighing 50 pounds are moderately common. With the excep- 

 tion of the lake trout and some of the salmon, this is undoubtedly 

 the largest game fish in the United States. 



The fish seem not to be gregarious, but occur usually in pairs. 

 Their food consists mainly of smaller fishes, and their voracity 

 is notorious. In the spawning season in small rivers falling into 

 Lake Simcoe, Richardson states that they feed on small fishes 

 and on gelatinous green balls which grow on the sides of banks 

 under the water. 



