THE COMMON PICKEREL. 183 



voracious habits, he has soon exterminated all other varie- 

 ties. Even excellent trout ponds have been treated in 

 this way. 



The largest of these fish within my range of informa- 

 tion, are taken in Long Pond, 'New Jersey, a large pond, 

 originally a natural lake, and rendered more extensive 

 by damming. The head-waters are filled with dead 

 trees, amid the roots of which pickerel hide and thrive. 

 There they are said to attain ten pounds, and often exceed 

 five. Generally, however, five is the limit, and many 

 more are taken that weigh not over three. These fish 

 are not found in the waters of Canada,- and are usually 

 captured with live or dead bait, or a piece of pork, 

 although in favorable water they would undoubtedly 

 take the spoon, like their congeners of the north. Their 

 habits are similar to those of the northern pickerel and 

 mascallonge. 



