SIXTY-TWO SPECIES OF FISHES FROM LAKE ERIE 
369 
2.5; depth behind vent, 2.75 millimeters. Myomeres, 21 to vent plus 25+ behind. 
Embryonic marginal fin fold starting dorsally shortly before vent, becoming abruptly 
high immediately behind over the elements and slight suggestions of about 17 rays, 
ventrally persisting before vent and behind over elements and suggestions of about 
11 anal rays; no ventrals; pectorals moderate; rays forming in heterocercal caudal. 
Body rather slender, not as compressed as yellow perch of similar length. Small 
canines in both jaws; maxillary to hind margin of pupil. Large simple air bladder. 
Vent situated at distance from body, at edge of marginal fin fold. 
Pigmentation. — Rather large stellate chromatophores are distributed on tips of 
both jaws, over top and sides of head, and in a single series on dorsal ridge, becoming 
double around fin. An irregular series extends along lateral line with myomere inter- 
spaces above and below marked with irregular black lines. Chromatophores have 
become scattered over sides of stomach and are more numerous below the surface over 
air bladder and intestine to vent. They occur also along ventral line, especially at 
base of anal, and extend on to caudal. The eye is very black. 
32.0-millimeter stage . — Total length, 32.0; standard length, 26.0; length to vent, 
17.0; length of head, 9.1; snout, 2.0; diameter of eye, 1.8; maxilla, 4.0; greatest depth 
before vent, 5.6; depth behind vent, 4.0; length to first dorsal, 10.0; to second dorsal, 
17.0; to anal, 18.0 millimeters; dorsal XIII-I, 21 (well separated); anal II, 13. 
Myomeres, 22 to vent plus 20 behind. Body long, of moderate depth; mouth large, 
maxilla to beyond pupil; preopercle serrate; canines strong. 
Pigmentation. — Chromatophores are heavy over top of head and usually in about 
seven patches or bars crossing dorsal ridge. These patches extend only a short distance 
down each side of body, then are broken, and other oblique bands, starting in the 
interspaces, cross the lateral fine and extend midway to ventral ridge. There is 
much individual variation in pattern, as seen in the specimen figured, which does not 
exhibit these bands markedly. The ventral surface is colorless except from origin 
of anal backward to caudal, where a double series of small, closely placed chromato- 
phores occurs. Both dorsals and caudal are pigmented, but other fins remain colorless 
except for a few chromatophores at base of pectorals. 
BREEDING 
The yellow pike spawns in spring, running upstream as soon as the ice breaks up. 
It prefers sandy bars in shallow water. 
