THE FISHES OF NEW JERSEY. 175 



A single genus of fresh-water fishes reaching some size and 

 of value as food. Their flesh is excellent, being white and flak}^ - 

 and of delicate flavor. The pike is noted for its voracity, aptly 

 quoted from Thoreau as "mere machines for the assimilation of 

 other organisms." Two species within our limits. 



Genus Esox Linn^us. 



The Pikes. 



Key to the species. 



a. Eye nearer tip of mandible than edge of gill-opening; scales 105 to 108; 



branchiostegals 11 to 13. americanus 



£ia. Eye midway in head; scales 125; branchiostegals 14 to 16. reticulatus 



Esox americanus (Gmelin). 



Pike. Pickerel. Ditch Pike. Short Billed Pike. Mud Pike.. 



Banded Pickerel. 



Head 3^/5; depth 5^^; D. v, 12; A. v, 11, i; scales 105 in 

 lateral line to base of caudal; 12 scales between origin of dorsal 

 and lateral line; 11 scales between lateral line and origin of anal; 

 mandible 2 in head; fourth developed dorsal ray 2^ ; fifth de- 

 A^eloped anal ray 2 34; lower caudal lobe 1%; least depth of 

 caudal peduncle 4^; pectoral 2^; ventral 2^; snout 2}i in 

 head measured from tip of upper jaw; eye 7; maxillary a trifle 

 less than 2; interorbital space 5; branchiostegals 13. Body 

 elongate, compressed and rather robust. Head heavy, compressed 

 posteriorly. Snout rather broad, depressed, and maxillaries pro- 

 truding laterally. Eye high, a little anterior, and a little longer 

 than deep. Mandible protruding a little beyond tip of upper jaw\ 

 Maxillary not quite reaching posterior margin of pupil. Teeth 

 moderately large, those in front of upper" jaw and several along 

 side of each ramus of mandible a little enlarged. Teeth on tongue 

 minute. Nostrils smiilar, rather large, close together in last 

 third of snout. Interorbital space flat. Side of mandible with a 

 broad thin labial fold. Gill-rakers as a series of very fine or 

 minute asperities. Scales small, smaller on breast and at bases 



