CHAPTER XV 



REARING PICKEREL AND MUSCAL- 

 LONGE 



The pike family is represented in Europe, 

 Asia and America, and tlie species vary in 

 weight at maturity from half a pound to nearly 

 150 pounds. The heaviest American species 

 are called muscallonge* ; certain other memhers 

 are called pike, and others pickerel. The word 

 "pickerel" means little pike, and North Amer- 

 ica possesses two or three species, one of which 

 is the "chain pickerel," a favourite food and 

 game fish, distinguished hy the chain-like re- 

 ticulations of colour which cover the sides of 

 its body. All the other pickerels and pikes 

 have bands or bars. 



The pikes prefer large bodies of water or 

 deep and very sluggish streams having many 



*The spelling of this Indian word is not generally agreed 

 upon. The Standard Dictionary prefers maskinonge. 



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