THE MUSKALLUNGE 



395 



The Chautauqua Muskallunge' is a species 

 quite distinct from its more northern relative. 

 It is confined to Chautauqua Lake and a few 

 localities in the Ohio valley — a comparatively 

 small area. In that landlocked region, far 

 from the shad and the bluefish, it is by many 

 persons considered a fine fish for the table. 



The Chain Pickerel 2 is so common through- 

 out the region bounded by Maine, Florida, Ar- 

 kansas and Minnesota, that it is difficult to say 

 where it is not found. It is so well and so widely 

 known that it requires neither introduction nor 

 description. On the lovely lakes of central Mich- 

 igan, and New York, to stand up in a boat that 

 is properly handled, and throw a trolling-spoon 

 along the borders of the lily-pad archipelagoes, 



1 E'sox o-hi-en'sis . 



2 £'sox re-tic-u-la'tus. See 



where the Pickerel hide, is good sport. In the 

 crystal-clear water the whirling, glittering 

 spoon is in sight every moment, and you can see 

 the rush of the Pickerel when he flies straight 

 as an arrow at the lure. This fish is so voracious 

 that several kinds of bait are effective for it; 

 but I see no reason for calling its flesh a delicacy. 

 Its maximum size is about 28 inches, which is 

 considerably larger than the little Brook Pick- 

 erel of the northern Mississippi valley. 



In a period of twelve months ending in 1899, 

 the total market catch of Pike, Muskallunge and 

 Pickerel, as reported to the United States Fish 

 Commissioner, amounted to 1,041,293 pounds, 

 worth $47,773. The Fish Commission makes no 

 serious efforts to propagate these species. 



illustration on page 387. 



