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ROYAL ONTARIO MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY

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_ No. 31: AN UNUSUAL MASKINONGE FROM LITTLE
VERMILION LAKE, ONTARIO

By G. S. CAMERON

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Peete Reprinted from Canadian Journal of Research,
D, 26:223-229. October, 1948.

ee : 1948

Reprinted from Canadian Journal of Research, D, 26 : 223-229. October, 1948
Published by the National Research Council of Canada

AN UNUSUAL MASKINONGE FROM LITTLE
VERMILION LAKE, ONTARIO!

By G. S. CAMERON?

Abstract

An unusual type of maskinonge found in two lakes in Kenora District, Ontario,
is regarded as a hybrid between Esox masquinongy and Esox lucius. It differs
from the typical maskinonge found in the same waters in having a stouter body,
longer and deeper head, longer maxillary, and longer fins. It retains dark
vertical bars throughout life whereas in the typical form these break up and
tend to disappear with age. Of 69 specimens examined, six were of the presumed
hybrid type. These all appeared to be sterile. They showed the following
Esox lucius characters—cheeks totally scaled, head concave interorbitally,
cheeks and opercula vividly marked.

The presence of an unusual type of maskinonge in Little Vermilion Lake,
Kenora District, Ontario, was brought to general attention in 1945, when it
was described as a new species, Esox amentus, by Godfrey (3).

During the summer of 1946, two months were spent on Little Vermilion
Lake and a number of other lakes in the vicinity in connection ‘with a
taxonomic study of maskinonge undertaken by the Royal Ontario Museum
of Zoology with the financial support of the Carling Conservation Club.
The accompanying map indicates the location of these lakes, which drain by
way of the English River, the Winnipeg River, Lake Winnipeg, and the Nelson
River into Hudson Bay.

In the course of these studies, 69 specimens of maskinonge from Little
Vermilion Lake, and a smaller connecting lake, known as Maskinonge Lake
(Musky Lake), were studied. The study included the making, on each
specimen, of 28 measurements of such body proportions as head length, head
depth, diameter of eye, length of snout, length of maxillary, body depth and
width, caudal peduncle depth and length, and height and base of dorsal, anal,
pectoral, and ventral fins. In addition, counts were made of scales in the
lateral line, of branchiostegals, and of fin rays. Measurements and counts
were made as described by Dymond (1). A description, including a photo-
graph, was made of the markings and color pattern of each specimen. Age
was determined also, by scale examination.

1 Manuscript received March 16, 1948.

Contribution No. 3§ of the Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology, Toronto, Ont.
2 Junior Zoologist (Seasonal) Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology.

224 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF RESEARCH. VOL. 26, SEC. D.

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Map of Little Vermilion and surrounding lakes.

Table I presents a comparison of the body proportions and counts of the
common and of the so-called ‘true tiger’ or amentus maskinonge. In the case
of the common type, only average and extreme ranges are given.

A comparison between a number of these body proportions in the two types
is presented graphically in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

The table and figures indicate several significant differences between the
common or typical maskinonge of Little Vermilion and Maskinonge lakes and
the so-called ‘true tiger’ (amentus) variant, occurring in the same waters.
As compared with the typical form, the variant has a much stouter body
(deeper and wider in proportion to length), with a longer and deeper head,
much more sharply concave interorbitally, longer maxillary (reaching a
vertical through the posterior margin of the eye), and a caudal peduncle both
shorter and deeper. The fins are all longer, with larger bases, while the scale
count seems slightly lower. Other differences include the complete scaling
of the cheek of the variant as compared with the naked lower half of the
cheek of the typical form.

The color and markings of the two forms are quite different. Small
specimens of the typical form (up to about 30 in. in length) are predominantly
bluish green on the sides with distinct dark vertical bars (Fig. 4). Larger
fish show a gradual darkening of color, while the markings become gradually

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CAMERON: MASKINONGE
TABLE I
COMPARISON OF BODY PROPORTIONS AND COUNTS OF SCALES AND BRANCHIOSTEGALS OF THE
COMMON TYPICAL MASKINONGE OF LITTLE VERMILION AND MASKINONGE LAKES AND

OF THE SO-CALLED ‘TRUE TIGER’ OR amentus TYPE FOUND IN THE SAME LAKES

All body proportions listed are expressed as thousandths of standard

length; standard length in mm.

Common type

“True tiger’ (amentus) type

Average} Range

Field number = — 037 024 O75 042 050 035 | Mean
Standard length 769 | 631-1022 | 850 862 885 904 908 911 887
Head length 276 252-309 315 321 329 303 S15 324 318
Head depth 112 092-129 127 i Ble 138 125 143 L122 128
Eye 029 | 024-032 027 028 030 029 026 025 028
Snout PTS 104-126 137 | 142 140 142 142 140
Interorbital 067 | 061-074 072 074 073 075 072 073 073
Maxillary 132 109-145 166 166 167 167 168 170 167
Snout to occiput 190 | 183-201 222 219 229 226 225 228 225
Body depth 183 163-222 188 209 206 204 193 200 200
Body width 105 | 089-122 108 115 120 123 120 113 116
Caudal peduncle

length 124 | 103-147 108 122 119 132 123 122 121

depth 074 | 063-083 O71 075 082 076 085 076 078
Dorsal

rays 22 19- 23 Ip. 22 23 22 23 22 22

height 115 099-129 119 119 134 134 121 128 126

: base 120 | 109-141 132 133 Swi 128 140 133 134

Ana

rays 20 18- 22 Zi 20 20 20 2A 2h) 20724

height 114 | 096-130 119 120 134 127 112 122 bee

base 099 | 090-120 104 104 110 108 098 094 104
Pectoral

rays 18 16- 19 18 18 18 17 18 18 18

height 115 -| 101-132 114 130 139 133 118 132 128

base 036 | 030-043 042 042 042 039 035 039 040
Ventral

rays 12-13 12- 13 12 12 12 12 12 12 12

height 100 | 089-117 101 112 119 118 110 120 113

base 036 | 031-040 039 037 037 038 035 038 037
Scales 149 | 137-156 143 150 143 146 140 145 145
Branchiostegals t7-16 16- 19 | 19/18} 19/20} 18/19) 18/17} 18/17} 18/18} 17/18

obscured (Fig. 5). The back is often so dark a shade of olive green as to be
almost black. This color shades down through bronze to sides that have a
ruddy ground color. As a fish ages, the bars break up into obscure blotches,
which remain more distinct in the caudal region (Fig. 6). In the largest
specimens (over 40 in.) the sides are usually of a uniform dirty brownish
color. The belly is usually white, although that of some young maskinonge
is marked by faint dark patches. The fins are typically of a brownish color
with obscure darker blotches; the fins are often of a vivid red color.

The variants are given the name ‘true tiger’ because they possess permanent
distinct dark crossbars (Fig. 7) traversing light-colored sides, which show a
subtle bluish tint. This light color darkens dorsally through a purple hue to
a back that is so deep a purple as to appear black. The bars arise from this

226 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF RESEARCH. VOL. 26, SEC. D.

black back and slope downwards and forwards, occasionally being broken by
distinct dark spots. These markings are sometimes described as ‘worm-
tracks’. The cheeks and opercula are covered with distinct dark blotches,
while the fins are less reddish than those of the typical form, and are faintly
spotted.

HEAD LENGTH (MM.)

STANDARD LENGTH (MM.)

Fic. 1. Diagram showing relation between head length and standard length in typical
maskinonge (small dots ) and ‘tiger’ maskinonge (large dots ).

MAXILLARY LENGTH (MM.)

STANDARD LENGTH (MM.)

Fic. 2. Diagram showing relation between maxillary length and standard length in
typical maskinonge (small dots ) and ‘tiger’ maskinonge (large dots ).

Through the co-operation of anglers fishing for maskinonge on Little
Vermilion and Maskinonge lakes, and local resort owners, a considerable
proportion of the specimens caught and retained were made available for
examination. So keen are anglers to exhibit their catch of a rare ‘true tiger’
that every specimen of this variant taken during the time the study was in
progress was photographed and examined. ‘The fact that of the 69 specimens
examined only six were of the ‘true tiger’ type indicates that this type is
comparatively rare. This rarity, together with the striking beauty of the

CAMERON: MASKINONGE 227

fish makes it a prize eagerly sought after, and may in part explain its reputation
for superior fighting qualities. Actually, experienced guides insist that both
‘true tiger’ and common maskinonge fight with equal vigor.

HEIGHT OF ANAL
FIN (MM.)

SAL FIN (MM.)

HEIGHT OF DOR-

STANDARD LENGTH (MM.)

Fic. 3. Diagram showing relation between height of anal and dorsal fins and standard
length in typical maskinonge (small dots) and ‘tiger’ maskinonge (large dots ).

A striking feature of these variants was the fact that their gonads were so
small and shrivelled as to suggest that they were nonfunctional. The texture
was quite different from that of the gonads of normal specimens of the same size.

So far as is known this variant is confined to Little Vermilion and
Maskinonge lakes although there were reports of its occurrence in Cliff and
Height of Land lakes. Until specimens from these waters can be examined
it will not be known whether these are of the same nature or merely vividly
marked young of the typical form.

Several of the characters in which the so-called ‘true tiger’ maskinonge of
Little Vermilion and Maskinonge lakes differ from the typical form suggests
that it is a hybrid between the common maskinonge (Esox masquinongy) and
the pike (Esox luctus). The pike is not known to occur normally in Little
Vermilion and Maskinonge lakes, although it abounds in the lower neighboring
lake, Big Vermilion, separated from Little Vermilion by a low falls. Little
Vermilion and Maskinonge lakes are joined by a long meandering creek. At
high water in spring when these fish spawn it is quite possible that occasional
pike may gain entrance to the Maskinonge lakes above.

Some of the considerations that suggest that the ‘true tiger’ (amentus)
maskinonge is a masquinongy-—lucius hybrid are as follows.

It appears to be sterile.

It possesses the following characteristics of Esox lucius—cheeks totally
scaled, head sharply concave interorbitally, cheeks and opercula vividly
marked.

The scale count is intermediate between /uctus and masquinongy.

228 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF RESEARCH. VOL. 26, SEC. D.

Presumed lucitus—masquinongy hybrids are known in other waters and have
been produced artificially. Eddy and Surber (3) say that late-maturing pike
have been reported as spawning with maskinonge and that evidence of hybri-
dization has been found in the frequent appearance of specimens bearing
maskinonge markings but having the cheeks entirely scaled as in the pike.

These authors further report that a large number of maskinonge eggs were
successfully fertilized with pike milt at the Nevis Hatchery and that pike
eggs were likewise successfully fertilized with maskinonge milt. Some of the
resulting fish were reared in the vicinity of the Nevis Hatchery and some in
tanks and ponds at the University of Minnesota.

Some of the characters shown by underyearlings of these hybrids have been
reported by Eddy (2, pp. 25-27) as follows: ‘‘Both of the crosses were heavily
barred. Some had the scales absent from the lower part of the cheek, but
many showed the lower part of the cheek to be covered partially or entirely
by scales.’”’ By Sept. 15 the hybrids were between 11 and 12 in. in standard
length whereas the pure bred lunge were between 7 and 8 in. in standard
length.

The heavy barring and the scaling on the lower part of the cheeks of the
artificially produced hybrids correspond to the condition found in the pre-
sumed hybrid here reported.

The increased rate of growth and apparent infertility of the presumed
hybrid correspond to the condition found by Hubbs and Hubbs (5) in the
case of hybrid sunfish. ,

While the evidence for an increased growth rate in the case of the presumed
hybrids reported here is not as great as in the case of the artificial hybrids
during their first year there is some indication of it. The six specimens of
the amentus type, ranging in standard length from 850 to 911 mm. were from
8 to 11 years of age, whereas six typical maskinonge from the same waters
860 to 911 mm. in length were 9 to 14 + years of age.

Four of the seven peculiar maskinonge reported by Seaborn (6, p. 237) were
probably pike—maskinonge hybrids as indicated by the barred pattern and
the complete scaling of the cheeks.

Acknowledgments

I wish to thank Prof. J. R. Dymond, Director of the Royal Ontario Museum
of Zoology, for his guidance in the investigation of this problem, and in the
preparation of this report. Gratitude is also due to Mr. Shelley Logier, Royal
Ontario Museum of Zoology, who has prepared the figures, and to all those
whose co-operation during the investigation was so generously given. These
include Mr. Mike Ament, Mr. George More, the late Mr. Howard Noreton,
Mr. Archie McDonald, Mr. Ernie Calvert, and numerous others.

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References

. Dymonp, J. R. The coregonine fishes of northwestern Canada. Trans. Roy. Can. Inst.

24 :171-231. 1943.

. Eppy, S. Do muskellunge and pickerel interbreed? Prog. Fish-Cult. No. 48. 1940.

. Eppy, S. and SuRBER, T. Northern fishes. Univ. Minn. Press, Minneapolis. 1943.

. GoprrEY, J., JR. Muskies unlimited. Outdoors. Oct. 1945.

. Husss, C. L.and Husss, L.C. The increased growth, predominant maleness and apparent

infertility of hybrid sunfishes. Papers Mich. Acad. Sci. 17 : 613-641. 1933.

. SEABORN, E. Variations in the maskinonge of the Sauble River, Ontario. Copeia, 1937,

No. 4. 1937.

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