SIXTY-TWO SPECIES OP FISHES FROM LAKE ERIE 
353 
50. 5 -millimeter stage . — Total length, 50.5; standard length, 44.5; length to vent, 
33.5; length of head, 16.0; depth of head, 6.0; greatest depth, 7.7; diameter of eye, 
3.7 millimeters. Dorsal, 16 (last 3 not complete); anal, 16; branchiostegals, 15. 
This specimen differs from a 35-millimeter muskalonge principally in its propor- 
tionately shorter snout, somewhat heavier body, dorsal and anal fin counts, and 
especially in number of branchiostegals (17 in muskalonge). The caudal peduncle is 
more slender and caudal fin not as deeply forked. 
Pigmentation. — A dark band extends from tip of upper jaw through eye to pos- 
terior margin of operculum, as in the muskalonge, but the pickerel lacks the parallel 
band below this one, which is evident in the latter. Instead the ventro-lateral 
aspect of head has sparsely distributed chromatophores in 2 or 3 irregular vertical 
bands, radiating more or less from eye. Whereas, in the muskalonge the ventral 
half of body is much darker, here the dorsal half has more numerous tiny pigment 
spots to lateral line. From the region of ventrals backward the latter are arranged 
in short oblique bars, about 8 to posterior margin of dorsal, which are opposite 
s imil ar darker spots below the comparatively light lateral line region, the whole 
giving an obliquely striped effect. The belly is colorless with only a few chromato- 
phores arranged along base of anal. All fins are spotted. 
BREEDING 
The pickerel spawns on grassy or rush beds in early spring as soon as the ice 
breaks up. 
34. Esox masquinongy Mitchill. Muskalonge, muskallunge. 
RECORD OF CAPTURE 
The muskalonge occurs sparingly in weedy, sheltered spots of Lake Erie and the 
Niagara River. The larval specimens described here are preserved hatchery material. 
DESCRIPTION 
Adult muskalonge are distinguished from their near relatives the pickerels by 
having the lower half of the cheeks scaleless. Their branchiostegal rays number 
17 to 19, whereas in the pickerels there are 11 to 16, and the dorsal rays about 17, 
instead of 11 to 14. 
Egg . — Eggs of the Lake Chautauqua muskalonge measured 2.85 to 3.2 milli- 
meters (usually 2.99) in diameter after preservation, with reddish-brown blastodisc. 
One egg taken on May 18 had an early embryo apparent with some small round black 
chromatophores along dorsal surface. Other eggs on May 26, however, containing 
embryos in a somewhat later stage, were totally colorless. The late embryo shows 
