MUSKALLONGE. 917 
The Pike is a gamey fish, taking the hook readily. Fishing for it 
through the ice, when the skating is good, is considered an exhilarating 
pastime. 
Prof. Cope observes: “For ourselves we do not join in the condemna- 
tion visited on the Pike by some, and have a liking for its flesh. If its 
increase can be restrained instead of favored, in waters which produce 
the best species, it will cease to inflict much injury by its voracious 
habits, for it naturally haunts still or grassy waters, where it devours 
fishes inferior to itself, as Hels, and Cat-fish, and frogs. On the other 
hand, we do not think the Pike needs any protection, as he has many 
natural advantages in the struggle for life; but he should not be de- 
stroyed except for the table.” (Rept. Fish Commr. Penn. for 1879-1880, 
107.) 
110. Esox Nnopitior Thompson. 
Muskallionge; Mascalonge; Maskinonge; Great Pike. 
‘“ Heox masquinongy MITCHILL” (Quoted, ‘‘ Mirror, 1824, 297,” but it is not there ; I cannot 
find the description anywhere). 
Esox estor, RICHARDSON, Fauna Bor.-Amer., ii, 127,—K1RTLAND, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., 
v, 338, and of several writers (not of LeSueur, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila , i, 1818, 
413; nor of GUNTHER, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vi, 228, E. lucius). 
Esox nobilior, THOMPSON, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., 1850, 163, 173, 205.—Copz, Proc. Acad. 
Nat. Sci. Phila., 1865, 79.—JoRDAN, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., x, 54; Man. Vert., 2d Ed. 
266, and ef all late writers. 
Description.—Body elongate; the general form as in ZL. lucius, but the head rather 
larger; eye about midway in head; interorbital space transversely concave, with a 
prominent middle ridge; maxillary reaching to opposite middle of orbit; lower half of 
cheeks and opercles scaleless, the scaly region about as wide as the eye and bounded by 
an irregular line running parallel with the profile;.color dark-gray, sides with round, 
dark spots of a grayish-black hue, nearly the color of the back on a ground color of 
grayish-silvery ; belly white; fins black spotted; head 52: depth 6; D.17; A. 15; V. 
12; B. usually 18; Lat.1.150. Length 3 to 6 feet or more, by far the largest of the Pikes, 
and the largest game-fish of American fresh waters. 
Habitat, entire Great Lake Region and lakes of British America, seldom ascending 
rivers except to spawn. Said to occur sometimes in the Ohio River, but we have no 
certain information of its capture there. 
Diagnosis —This species may at once be known by being dark-spotted on 
a lighter ground color. Most writers who have mentioned it have con- 
founded it with the Common Pike, although Dr. Kirtland (J. ¢.) has well 
pointed out the difference. 
‘The ground color on the sides of the Muskallunge is always light, a 
mixture of golden and silvery luster, maculated with dark oblong or 
roundish spots, while on the other the ground coloring consists of dark 
