SIXTY-TWO SPECIES OF FISHES FROM LAKE ERIE 
355 
14.0- millimeter stage . — Total length, 14.0; length to vent, 9.4; length of head, 3.2; 
snout, 0.76; maxilla, 0.87; diameter of eye, 0.85; greatest depth before vent, 1.75; 
depth behind vent, 1.9 millimeters. Myomeres, 45 to vent plus 23 behind. Marginal 
fin intact, caudal lophocercal. The greatest change from the preceding stage lies in 
the gradual lengthening of snout. 
Pigmentation. — About as the preceding stage. 
15 .0- millimeter stage . — Total length, 15.0; length to vent, 10.5; length of head, 
3.3; snout, 0.85; diameter of eye, 0.88; maxilla, 1.8; greatest depth before vent, 1.7; 
Figure 72.— Esox masquinongy, 14.0 millimeters 
depth behind vent, 1.75 millimeters. Myomeres, 46 to vent plus 26 behind. Mar- 
ginal fin reduced anteriorly, only slightly notched at peduncle, and still apparent 
before vent. Further lengthening of snout and jaws constitute the greatest change. 
Pigmentation. — Unchanged from preceding except for slightly increased number 
of chromatophores over dorsal aspect. 
S3 .8-millimeter stage . — Total length, 33.8; standard length, 31.2; length of head, 
11.5; snout, 5.0; eye, 2.0; greatest depth before vent, 4.0; depth behind vent, 3.1 
millimeters. Characterized by very much produced snout with lower jaw strongly 
projecting; mouth very large with maxilla extending almost to posterior margin of 
eye; eye large; formidable teeth on jaws, tongue, roof of mouth, pharynx, and gill 
arches. Marginal fin still apparent from middle of stomach to ventrals, thence to 
anal. Dorsal 17 (in stained and cleared specimen, elements of 3 more) ; anal 16 (with 
Figure 73 . — Esox masquinongy, 15.0 millimeters 
2 more in stained specimen); branchiostegals 17; vertebrae about 43 plus 21 (not 
completely ossified). 
Pigmentation. — This specimen is characterized by a dark band as in younger 
stages from tip of snout through center of eye to posterior margin of operculum. 
A second band parallel to this extends from tip of lower jaw straight across head, 
touching the lower margin of eye without greatly diminishing its width, and terminat- 
ing shortly behind eye. Top of head and dorsal aspect to lateral line are quite closely 
peppered with small round black chromatophores, becoming few only at base of 
middle third of dorsal. Below lateral line in trunk region and the whole tail have 
become thickly covered with larger stellate spots interspersed among small ones 
Base of anal and fin itself, and posterior margin of caudal, are without pigment. 
BREEDING 
The muskalonge is reported to start spawning in normal years a few days after 
the ice disappears and to continue until the latter part of April in shallow, muddy 
water from 10 to 15 feet deep, usually where logs and dead branches clog the bottom. 
109774°— 32 5 
