276 RECREATION MAGAZINE 



is a great jumper, and when trans- but as soon as the little fishes are re- 

 ferred to new quarters, unless the tank leased from the hatching boxes they are 

 is covered it is not an uncommon oc- the prey of nearly all other fishes that 

 currence to find that one has committed inhabit the lake. Their only safety is 

 suicide by jumping out of the tank, in hiding among plants or other objects 

 This is almost sure to occur if a stream that may screen them from their nura- 

 of water is being discharged with con- erous enemies. 



siderable force into the top of Ihe tank, The color of the common pickerel in 



thereby creating considerable? commo- life is greenish, varying greatly in shade 



tion on the surface of the water. That from time to time, the sides showing 



seems to excite the fishes, for they will more or less of golden or bronze, 



continue to jump until the stream is dis- Markings are dark lines, generally hor- 



continued. After they become accus- izontal, more or less irregular, joining 



tomed to the new surroundings they ap- one another at intervals, often pro- 



parently give up the attempt to escape, ducing chain-like figures. On the lower 



The muskallunge is very highly es- part of the body the lines, which are 



teemed for the excellent flavor of its practically parallel with one another, 



flesh, which is white and tender. In may extend two or three inches without 



many locations it takes high rank as a being connected. The cheeks and gill 



food fish. covers are entirely scaled. Close obser- 



During the year 1899 two specimens vation will reveal very decided varia- 

 weighing twelve pounds each were tions in color and markings in different 

 placed in one of the lakes of New Jer- specimens. In color the pike is a com- 

 sey, where none of the species was bination of greenish and gray, generally 

 known to exist. Four years later an darker on the back. The body is cov- 

 angler caught a muskallunge in the ered with light yellowish spots, varying 

 same lake. It weighed twenty-eight in shape and size. The fins, with the 

 pounds. If, as was supposed, none of exception of the pectorals, have quite 

 the species was to be found there, the pronounced black spots. Except tow- 

 one caught must have been one of the ard their extremities, the markings are 

 two which were placed there four years oblong. The cheeks and upper portion 

 previously. This being the case, the of gill covers are scaled, but the lower 

 specimen taken by the angler had in- portion of the gill covers are scaleless. 

 creased in weight at the rate of four The color of the Chautauqua muskal- 

 pounds each year, a very good growth, lunge is gray with a tinge of greenish. 

 Evidently there was an abundance of The body from gill covers to back of 

 food in the lake, which was well suited dorsal fin bears about twenty-five dark 

 to the muskallunge. cross-bars which are often broken into 



The State of New York has for sev- spots on the lower portion of the sides. 



eral years hatched upwards of 3,000,000 Spots, which are more or less irregular, 



of the species annually, and the fry or cover the remaining part of the body, 



young were planted in suitable waters, also the fins, though at times the spots 



The method of hatching the eggs of are not very prominent, particular- 

 the muskallunge in Chautauqua Lake is ly on the pectorals. The upper part 

 by placing them in boxes made for the of the cheeks and gill covers is scaled, 

 purpose, and sinking them in the lake ; The lower portion is entirely scale- 

 it takes about fifteen days for the eggs less. The color and markings of the 

 to hatch, with the water at 55 degrees several species of the pike family 

 Fahrenheit. It would seem that with vary considerably, which often confuses 

 the hatching and planting of such a a large number of anglers, but by ob- 

 large number of the young fishes each serving the scales on the cheek and gill 

 year, muskallunge ought to be plentiful covers one can alwavs designate, the 

 in the waters of the State of New York ; species, 



