THE MUSKBLLUNGE IN LAKE HUEOK. 465 



On the 9th of April a fish of this species four feet in length was taken at Eacine ; head to 

 operculum, ten inches; to eye, four inches; greatest circumference, twenty and one half inches; 

 over eye, eighteen inches; at gills, eighteen inches; weight, forty-five pounds. These fish are 

 never here taken in the gill-nets; they are resident in the lake about Eacine in winter. A very few 

 have been known to occur at Waukegan. On the southeastern shore of Lake Michigan, including 

 the fisheries of Saugatiick, South Haven, and Saint Joseph, this fish is reported as always being 

 of a large size. At Ludington, farther north, only one instance of capture is ou record; it is also 

 said to be very rare at Grand Haven. 



But little has been reijorted regarding the occurrence of the Muskellunge upon the numerous 

 fishing grounds along the north shore of the southern peninsula of Michigan between Little 

 Traverse Bay and Thunder Bay. It is generally rare through the Straits of Mackinaw, 

 only about half a dozen being taken each season; and most abundant of all at Les Oheneaux 

 Islands. Captain Coats caught one here, in 1874, weighing sixty-two pounds. These fish are 

 rarely taken in pound-nets, and are chiefly caught with hook and line about the Les Cheneaux and 

 Drummond Islands. Captain Dingman has caught only one in his pound-net in the past fifteen 

 years. All caught, of which he has heard, have been large. In Thunder Bay about a dozen, ou 

 an average, are taken in twelve months. In Saginaw Bay they are taken in about the same num- 

 bers as in Thunder Bay. Here too they are always large fish. A few are taken in seines along the 

 coast between Port aux Barques and Port Huron. A few also are taken annually in the Saint Clair 

 Eiver; perhaps a dozen or two altogether in this region during a, year. Between Toledo and 

 Detroit River, Lake Erie, a specimen of this fish is taken now and then in the pound-nets. When 

 taken, it is always large. The same remark will apply to the vicinity of Toledo and Maumee Bay.' 



Muskellunge in Lake Erie. — About Locust Point a few are taken in the fall. Twenty 

 years ago, in this region, including the fisheries of Ottawa, Port Clinton, Toussaint, and Locust 

 Point, Musquellunge were taken weighing sixty and seventy pounds. In Sandusky Bay speci- 

 mens are ciught of forty-five pounds weight, and at Kelley's Island one was caught weighing 

 fifty-seven pounds, and another sixty-two pounds. 



In connection with the Huron (Ohio) fisheries, it is reported that about one hundred and fifty 

 fish of this species wjere taken in seventy-five nets during the year 1879. They are here generally 

 large, and are always taken in pairs. Three or four represent a year's catch of this fish at Ver- 

 million, Ohio. About Black Eiver, Lorain County, Ohio, Amherst, and Brownhelm Bay, it is 

 very scarce, few being caught in nets; all that are taken are large. Of this fish, in connec- 

 tion with the Cleveland and Dover Bay fisheries, it may be said that it is very rare, and is becom- 

 ing more so each year. Mr. Sadler says he took one weighing eighty pounds. The fishermen say 

 they are always found in pairs. 



The Muskellunge is taken at Conneaut at the rate of half a dozen in ten years. Only one 

 specimen was taken in the Painesville pounds in 1879. At Pairport and Willoughby, Ohio, no 

 mention is made of its occurrence. Erie Bay, especially at Dunkirk and Barcelona, New York, 

 Erie, Pennsylvania, and Mills' Grove, Ohio, is famous for its Muskellunge fishing; this pa«t 

 season over sixty were caught, weighing from twenty to forty-five pounds. They are caught 

 by trawling. Fancy prices are paid for them ; about twenty-five cents per jjound retail in the 

 city and twelve and a half cents when shipped. More were caught during the season of 1879 

 than ever before. 



MuSKELLUNaB IN LAKE Ontaeio. — The following notes relate to the fishery in Lake Ontario : 

 At Oswego the fish is very rare on the American side ; at Port Ontario one is occasionally caught ; 



iMr. Fred. Alvord states that he procured a Muskellvinge from Maumee Bay, in 18(34, weighing eighty- five pounds. 

 30 F 



