166 ESOCES. 



to several feet in length, and is taken in the rivers, 

 lakes, &c, throughout the United States. In Mas- 

 sachusetts it rarely exceeds two feet. 



Their digestive machinery is quite curious- 

 ly constructed. When young, in England, meas- 

 uring about one foot, they are called Jacks. When 

 of this size they are splendidly shaded with 

 green and yellow spots ; as they grow older, how- 

 ever, the brilliancy of the coloring is lost, and 

 they even have a dingy hue — and in extreme 

 age, become of a metallic complexion. Young 

 water-fowls, frogs, and indeed every living creature 

 which they can master, they never hesitate to 

 seize upon. 



They are usually caught with a bait made of a 

 small fish. The flesh is white and nutritious, and 

 on the whole, it is one of the best table fishes in 

 New- England, but only a comparatively small 

 number find their way to the Boston market. In 

 the western part of the state they occasionally at- 

 tain the length of two feet and a half. 



Dr Williams, author of the History of Vermont, 

 informs us that the pike in that state bears the 

 name of muschilongce. Lake Champlain abounds 

 with them, of immense size and length. The 

 Doctor says they are easily speared, a common 

 mode of taking them all over New England. 



