THE MUSKALLUNGE 
395 
The Chautauqua Muskallunge 1 is a species 
quite distinct from its more northern relative. 
It is confined to Chautauqua Lake and a few 
localities in the Ohio valley — a comparatively 
small area. In that landlocked region, far 
from the shad and the bluefish, it is by many 
persons considered a fine fish for the table. 
The Chain Pickerel 2 is so common through- 
out the region bounded by Maine, Florida, Ar- 
kansas and Minnesota, that it is difficult to say 
where it is not found. It is so well and so widely 
known that it requires neither introduction nor 
description. On the lovely lakes of central Mich- 
igan, and New York, to stand up in a boat that 
is properly handled, and throw a trolling-spoon 
along the borders of the lily-pad archipelagoes, 
1 E'sox o-hi-en'sis. 
2 E'sox re-tic-u-la'tus. See i 
where the Pickerel hide, is good sport. In the 
crystal-clear water the whirling, glittering 
spoon is in sight every moment, and you can see 
the rush of the Pickerel when he flies straight 
as an arrow at the lure. This fish is so voracious 
that several kinds of bait are effective for it; 
but I see no reason for calling its flesh a delicacy. 
Its maximum size is about 28 inches, which is 
considerably larger than the little Brook Pick- 
erel of the northern Mississippi valley. 
In a period of twelve months ending in 1899, 
the total market catch of Pike, Muskallunge and 
Pickerel, as reported to the United States Fish 
Commissioner, amounted to 1,041,293 pounds, 
worth $47,773. The Fish Commission makes no 
serious efforts to propagate 'these species. 
lustration on page 387. 
i 
