240 Aoosevelt Wild Life Bulletin 



This means that: any two fwrcnts, despite the large nuinljer of their 

 eggs, succed in leaving "n the earth but one pair nt descendants that 

 in turn reproduee." 



From this it is seen that the faet that the pike produces a large 

 number of eggs indicates that there are many natural adverse con- 

 ditions operating against the species. The fecundity of the pike is a 

 provision to ofifset them. Then, too, the natural longevity of the pike 

 in addition to the capacity for Q:gg production indicates that the vicissi- 

 tudes of the pike race, notwithstanding the reputed voracity and sav- 

 ageness, are something prodigious. This being so suggests that when 

 disturbances of balance occur, the advantages are likely to l^e on the 

 side of some other factors or elements in the pike's habitat rather 

 than on the side of the pike. 



A " general practice " in the past, as concerns pike or any other 

 fish, is hardly suf^cient reason to condemn or favor it. Titcomb's 

 opinion that the pike destroys many small-mouth blackbass appears 

 to be supported by no evidence, and there is at least presumptive 

 evidence that the blackbass may destroy the pike, as other reputed 

 victims of the voracity of one species of- pike have been observed 

 to do. Brook trout have been known to take young eastern pickerel 

 and the common chub or fallfish have been found feeding ravenously 

 upon young of the same species (Kendall, '18). 



Referring to the recommendation concerning rockbass and sun- 

 fish, both of which appear to be indigenous to Lake George, it would 

 appear that the rockbass at least is a food fish of some value, al- 

 though Needham omits it from his enumeration of the most valuable 

 species of Lake George. 



In the discussion of the fishes of Lake George, Titcomb says : 



" The rock bass and two species of sunfish are very abundant about 

 the shores of the islands and mainland. They are easily caught, and 

 furnish much sport for the little folks and for unskilled anglers. 

 [Italics are the present writer's.] Properly prepared, they are good 

 table fish, either in chowder, cooked in the frying pan, or over the 

 open camp fire. ^^lany people do not care to skin and dress them 

 and therefore throw them back. It is a practice of the anglers fish- 

 ing for bass to return the rock bass and sunfish of which they catch 

 perhaps six or eight for everv^ bass they are able to kill. This prac- 

 tice is upsetting the balance of nature. In other words these fish 

 which are rather objectionable in lakes of this character are being 

 protected when the other more desirable fishes are being removed. 

 It is better to kill them, and if not utilized as food to take them 

 ashore and bury them." 



To the present writer, the advice given in the last lines of the above 

 paragraph and in the recommendation, appears strange, coming as 

 it does from a fish culturist and conservation advocate. It is admitted 

 that the rockbass is a good food fish. Bean ('03) says: " The rock 

 bass bites very freely and is a fair game fish and excellent for the 

 table." It is not shown in what way the balance of nature is being 



