PICKEREL AND MUSCALLONGB 201 



submerged logs, stumps, and aquatic plants. 

 Among these, the pike, solitary in its habits, 

 rests perfectly motionless, waiting for the com- 

 ing of its prey. "When within a few feet, the 

 pike, galvanised into life, darts forth with 

 lightning-like rapidity, seizes its victim and 

 returns to its lair. There, often, it wiU play 

 with its captive as a cat does with a mouse, and 

 wait some time before swallowing it. 



Some anglers regard the pickerel as a high- 

 class game-fish. Others place it on a very much 

 lower level. In food-quality the chain pickerel, 

 despite the many small sharp bones in its chest, 

 holds a very respectable place in the market, 

 and meets with ready sale. The flesh of the 

 muscaUonge ranks high, and both it and the 

 chain pickerel deserve greater attention than 

 they receive from fish-culturists. New York 

 State alone propagates the muscaUonge, but no 

 public hatchery exists for pickerel, yet its prop- 

 agation is very easy. 



Propagation of Pickerel. — ^Eggs may be 

 pressed from the female without any trouble 

 whatever ; the eggs however, are glutinous, and 

 have to be thoroughly rubbed and cleaned after 



