THE LONG ISLAND PICKEREL.
_Esox Fasciatus._--This fish has no name whatever in common parlance,
and naturalists have dubbed him Varied Pickerel, Mackerel Pickerel, and
other terms which are unknown except to their authors. He abounds on
Long Island, although he is found elsewhere throughout the State, and
probably the most appropriate name would be Banded Pickerel, as his
scientific appellation justly suggests. Varied pickerel is appropriate
to nothing, and mackerel pike to the _scomber esox_, another fish
altogether. This fish is distinguishable by having dark vertical bands
upon his sides, and being altogether of a darker hue on the back than
any other pickerel, while the pectoral, ventral and anal fins are
lighter colored and sometimes reddish. A dark band passes from the eye
to the angle of the jaw, and the fin-rays are--
D. 22; P. 16; V. 10; A. 18; C. 18. Or, according to Dr. De Kay--
D. 15; P. 15; V. 9; A. 14; C. 19-5/5
This fish never exceeds one pound in weight, and one foot in length; and
although endowed with all the ferocity of his family, does not
apparently injure the trout ponds of Long Island, where he has a local
habitation and a name. Probably he cannot destroy the larger fish, and
the young fry do not live where he resorts. It is not from want of will
but of power that he is harmless, for he will take a small fly with the
same ravenous eagerness that the mascallonge exhibits in seizing the
deadly spoon. He is fat and free from bones, and not a bad pan fish, and
in these particulars, as well as in habits and appearance, he sets his
big brothers a good example.