FISHES AND FISHING IN THE ADIRONDACKS. 293 



boyhood experience (Eupojuotis anvens), is found in great numbers, with the same 

 bad habit of "taking the bait" which characterizes him in the outside waters. 



The "Family Esocidas," or "the pikes," are not native to the Adirondacks, 

 but unfortunately, through ignorance and sometimes through malice, have been 

 placed in waters inhabited by trout, proving to be among the most destructive 

 enemies of that royal fish. The true "pike " {Esox lucins) and the " pickerel " (Esox 

 reticulatus), a smaller fish of the Esox family ("pickerel" properly meaning "a 

 little pike"), are often confounded with each other. The pike was found by Mather 

 in Long Lake and Forked Lake, but now exists in quite a number of lakes. It is 

 believed that the pickerel {Esox reticulatus) also has been placed in some Adiron- 

 dack lakes. Guides and sportsmen usually, perhaps universally, apply the name 

 "pickerel " indiscriminately to both varieties, and always in emphatic deprecation. 



The "Family Siluridae," "the cat fishes," are represented in Adirondack 

 waters by the "bullhead" {Amiurus catus). They thrive best in sluggish waters 

 having muddy bottoms. The fisherman for trout abandons his "choice spot" 

 when the bullhead begins to take his bait. It is an excellent food fish when 

 properly cooked. 



The "Family Anguilla," "the eels," has one representative in many Adiron- 

 dack waters, "the common eel" {Anguilla rostrata), although its presence is 

 hardly ever suspected by or made known to the sportsman. 



The "Family Calostromidae," "the sucker." Of these, four varieties were 

 found by Mather in abundance in the Adirondacks — the "long nosed," "common," 

 "June" and "dwarf." They bear a great variety of common names. In the 

 Adirondacks they are of value as food for other and better fishes. 



The "Family Cyprinidae." In this "family" there are over a hundred 

 genera, and nearly a thousand species. "In the Old World," says Mather, "there 

 are several species of this family which grow to good size and are recognized as 

 game fish. In America there is but one species which grows to a size that 

 entitles it to the notice of the angler. This is the 'big chub,' 'fall fish,' 'roach,' 

 etc. The other members of the family are lumped together in the popular 

 nomenclature as chubs, dace, shiners and that name which covers a multitude of 

 fishes, 'minnows.'' These smaller fishes are very abundant in most Adirondack 

 waters and constitute the most important fish food upon which the existence of 

 the trout and bass families largely depends. In lakes or streams where they 

 do not abound, or other sufficient live food supply is not furnished, these noble 

 game fish cannot live. The memory of many a gray-haired sportsman goes back 

 to his juvenile days when with pin hook and tow string he had his first piscatory 



