, 1923-01-07
GETTING ACQUAINTED WITT
THE PIKE FAMILY,

North America Ia pretty lucky
when It comes to possessing members
OF the pike family. This group of
fishes is widely scattered throughout
the continent. and whereas the old
world has only one pike. Esox lucIous,
our well known great lakes pike, err.
~roneousiy called pickerel. this contin.
ent can claim W different species.
Common as tse members of the
pike family are, they constitute o
group that is very much confused as
regards correct names. and today
when a fellow talks about n pickerel
er great lakes pike or a muskie you
hardly know which fish he is refer
ring to. as pixies are called piclSerel in
some localities and tho Same fish is
given the name of muskie in other
sections. So as a starter towards
Strengthening out the tumble of
names. let's take a look at the pike
family and see what's what.
Here is a little vest pocket birds
eye view OF the pike gang-eort of
family group. az II were, giving com
moa name. scientific name, and where
found:
/. Little pickerel Esox vermicuI-
atus)-Found in upper Mississippi
valley. as well as In streams that flow
into Lakes Erie and Michigan. 1t is
not known east of the Alleghanies.
This little pike rarely exceeds a foot
in length.
3. banded pickerei Esox Amerl-
canuslEDistinctly an eastern fish, as
II is found only east Of the ALLIE.
ghanies. 1t reaches a length Of about
a foot.
8. Eastern pickerel or green pike
E0ox reticulatusl-This fish is found
from Maine to Florida. Louisiana.
Arkansas, and Tennessee; n common
fish in Ozark waters; also common In
New England states.
Z. Great lakes pike. common pike.
or 'pickerel" (Esox Enthusiastically
distributed. Found from New York
and the Ohio river country northward
Occurs in our continents. Also found
as far north as Alaska. This is the
common pike OF tho middle west, usu.
ally called pickaral.
s. MuskRliunge Esox Masquin,
onsySThis fish Is native to all the
great lakes. upper st. Lawrence river.
and Its streams. as we'll as certain
small lakes of the upper Mississippi
valley. This is the m muakie
known to the many anglers who have
Wrapped with these big fellows.
8. Ohio Muskallungo or Chautau.
qua Muakallunso Esox MasguinonEy.
ohiensiaSChautAubua lake, Ohio,
and the Ohio river basin.
Z. Great Northern Pike or Plain
NQtNNEo IN I,Vn1a IT-n- Na-,----. -
maculatusl-Found only in Eagle
lakes in the northern part VI that
state and Minnesota.
There they are. the whole bunch
Of pixies that are found in North
America. This is the group that
scientists have declared are pixies.
pickereI. n IL all OF us called each
fish by its correct name everything
would be lovely. but name is not the
Tho first three in tho list. the little
pickerel. the banded pickerel. and the
eastern pickerel. should be called pick.
but we ought to lay off that
name when we talk about the big
pixies. For instance. that little pick.
erel which you find right here in the
middle west in ponds. aloughr. and
heyous and which never does grow
up" to be any longer than a foot is,
caught by anglers. thought 10
an Immature pike. Not so long
ago n fisherman wrote US asking
why he never could catch any big
pike in a quarry which he had stock.
ed with these picks Good reason
because they never do attain I'M
size. being Just plain little pleksrsL