MUSKALLUNGB, PIKE, PICKEREL, PIKE PERCH 57 



call for much attention, and being prolific breeders 

 naturally, tins variety has been neglected. 



The resemblance between the muskallunge, pike, 

 and pickerel is very close in general appearance and 

 contour, but in coloring and marking there is some 

 variation, and in the matter of size and weight there 

 is considerable difference. There are a great many 

 fishermen who fail to make a distinction between 

 these three, and persist in calling them all pickerel, 

 just as the pike perch is generally called a pike. One 

 needs to keep in mind only the few points given 

 below to distinguish these fish properly at sight. 



The muskallunge is the greatest of the four, both 

 in size and fighting qualities, but is not as generally 

 distributed as the others. The name seems to be 

 derived from that given it by the Indians of Canada, 

 " maskinonge," the best translation of which is " nasty 

 fish." ]S"ot " nasty" meaning " vile " or " bad," but 

 an especially difiicult or " nasty " fish to catch. This 

 is, indeed, a most proper name for it, for one of good 

 size on the other end of a line presents a most com- 

 plicated problem before it is brought safely to net. 

 It is a particularly large fish, reaching as high as 70 

 or 80 pounds in weight, with an average of from 20 

 to 40 pounds. It is found usually in water ranging 

 from 5 or 6 feet to 15 feet in depth, especially where 

 the bottom is covered with long weeds. In these it 



