The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-08-12
GROWTH OF A MuskELLUNoE.
A Fish That viii Live and Do Well In
Utter Loneliness.

OttcT LSUcnncSSs
The fact that fish will live and do
we'll in utter loneliness, SO far as the
presence of any individuals of its own
rpecies Is concerned, has been proved
In Long Lake, Price County, Wis.
That is q deep and beautiful body of
water, springfield, and having no con.
nection with any other body of water
connected with the Mississippi, and
therefore 1t has no muskellunge in II
by processes of nature. II does net
differ in character from neighboring
lakes. but these have some sort of out.
let into the Mississippi and are muskel-
lunge stocked.
Seven years ago Hugh Boyd. when
fishing in Round lake, half n mile from
Long lake, caught slender young
muskellunge weighing not more than
n pound. He brought It across the
portage between the lakes and dumped
1t into Long lake. 1t was in primo
condition and disappeared like a flash.
From that day no man saw or heard
Of this muskellunge. There are many
anglers on Long lake each summer,
since 1t is populous with bass. They
cast and cast through all of the good
months, using spoons, minnows, frogs
and all other lures.
1t is hardly possible that square
foot Of the lakes surface remained
iunwhipped. Most of them did not
know that a muskellunge had been put
into the water. Boyd supposed that
the fish had died and been devoured.
On May 26. the first day of the bass
fishing season, AL w. Filson Of Chica-
go, with fishing at the south end of
Long lake, within a hundred yards Of
the boat landing whence the little
muskellunge was dropped seven years
ago. His reel had over.run, and while
he was Strengthening the snarls in
his line the spoon, loaded with bit Of
pork, sank to the bottom. The boat
was not more than ten yards from the
shore.
Getting the line unkinked, Filson
reeled in and the spoon came straight
up to the boats side. AS 1t reached
the surface the muskellunge struck at
1t. 1t had rushed upward good ten
feet and hit hard. The impetus was
sufficient to carry 1t two feet clear Of
the water. 1t missed the spoon by six
inches and fell back.
An excellent view of the fish was OBJ.
tanned and an accurate estimate of
Its size and weight can be made. 1t is
now not less than two feet long and is
OF considerable girth. It is of the size
OF muskellunge frequently caught in
these waters and will weigh ~ pounds,
possibly 13.
This will give an idea of the speed
With which a muskellunge increases
in length and weight when in a state
Of freedom, and is probably the first
estimate of the kind. This fish, getting
plenty to eat, but no companionship,
monarch of all 1t surveyed, has doubled
its length in seven years and multi.
piled its weight by ~. 1t has grown in
weight approximately one and three
quarters pounds year.
1t, Of course, has grown more slowly
of late years. Probably for four years
past 1t has not increased by more than
pound a year, aud it is reasonable
to conclude that it will maintain that
rate until its full growth is reached.
From these data 1t is possible to
form some idea Of the age of big
muskellunge. This fish will be 10 years
old when it weighs 20 pounds. and II It
reaches size of 80 pounds it will be
25. On this basis the hoary monster
Of 103 pounds captured at Minocqua
last spring was 9S, supposing that fish
Of this family grow in weight at about
the same speed in similar waters.
The anglers who frequent Long lake
will make many efforts to hook the
solitary musky hereafter and will
weigh 1t and return it to the water
year after year If it is caught. In this
way 1t can be watched and annotated
like a fish in an aquarium.-Chicago
inter Ocean