CHAPTER XLVI 



THE ORDER OF PIKES 



HA PL MI 



After the Order of Spiny-Finned Fishes, with 

 its great array of genera and species, it is a 

 relief to reach an Order which contains but one 

 Family, and only five species. The so-called 

 Yellow "Pike" is not a member of this aristo- 

 cratic and exclusive Family; for, as already 

 stated, it is only a pike-perch. 



Look at any member of the Pike Family, and 

 tell me whether it does not make you think of a 

 pirate. Observe that yawning sepulchre of a 



THE MUSKALLTJNGE. 



mouth, that evil eye, and low, flat forehead — 

 all indicating a character replete with cunning 

 and ferocity. Note the total absence of a digni- 

 fied and respectable front dorsal fin, which nearly 

 every fish of proper moral character possesses 

 and displays with pride. 



Like scaly assassins, the pikes and pickerels 

 lie in wait for their prey; and whenever one 

 rushes like a green streak from under the lily- 

 pads, and bolts a trolling-spoon in one great, 

 ill-mannered gulp, the angler feels a savage de- 

 light in thinking that it serves him right. These 

 fishes are the most voracious creatures that in- 

 habit our inland waters. Their ambition is to 

 devour every living creature that comes in sight, 

 and they prey upon all other fishes, frogs and 



amphibians generally, ducklings, other small 

 aquatic birds, and also small aquatic mammals. 

 Worse than this, they even devour their own 

 kind. That they are found living with the bass, 

 perch and other fishes is generally due to the fact 

 that it is impossible for them to devour all their 

 neighbors. 



The Pike 1 is a fish of very wide — almost 

 world-wide — distribution. In America it is 

 found from Kodiak Island, Alaska, southward 

 through British Columbia, Canada, the 

 upper Mississippi valley and the Great 

 Lakes region, to Europe and Asia. 

 Dr. Jordan says ("Food and Game 

 Fishes ") that it reaches a length of 

 4 feet, a weight of 40 pounds, and that 

 the Kankakee River, in Illinois, is one 

 of the best streams for great Pike fish- 

 ing of which he knows. As a food fish 

 the Pike ranks low. 



The Muskallunge 2 is a game fish 

 of high rank, and its Indian name is 

 spelled in eight different ways. Its 

 standing may be expressed in the fol- 

 lowing proportion: The Muskallunge 

 is to the fresh-water angler as the tuna 

 is to the salt-water angler. 



Its great size makes it a great prize, and the 

 taking of a large fish with sportsman-like tackle, 

 and a very good chance to be upset in deep 

 water during the struggle, makes the Muskallunge 

 the king of fresh-water game fishes. The north- 

 ern species — of the Great Lakes, the St. Law- 

 rence and southern Canada — reaches a length of 

 7\ feet, or more, and attains a maximum weight 

 of about 90 pounds. Its centre of abundance 

 seems to be in the Thousand Islands of the St. 

 Lawrence, where it affords grand sport. Usually' 

 it is caught by trolling, — a most delightful 

 scheme by which the twin pleasures of boating 

 and fishing are combined. 



1 E'sox lu'ci-us. 2 E'sox mas-quin-on'gy. 



394 



