A study of variations in the maskinonge from three regions in Canada /
A. S. Hourston · Royal Ontario Museum eBooks · 1955
Two subspecies of Esox masquinongy have been recognized (Dymond, 1947) in Canadian waters namely, E,m, masquinongy Mitchill (St.Lawrence maskinonge) and E.m, immaculatus Garrard (northern maskinonge).They are distinguished by their pattern of markings, the typical subspecies having "round or squarish blackish spots of varying size" (Jordan and Evermann, 1896Evermann, -1900)), while the immaculatus form has spots, cross-bars or both, generally very indistinct except on the tail (Weed, 1927).Although some of the earlier workers (Mitchill, Garrard, Weed) appear to have considered these forms as separate species, most recent authors (Eddy and Surber, 1943; Hubbs and Lagler, 1947) refer to them as subspecies of E. masquinon- gy.All of these authors give a pattern of markings as the basis of distinction, but in some cases a scepticism of the value of classification on the basis of colour pat- tern is indicated (Eddy and Surber, 1943).The problem of subspecific classifications in maskinonge is open to more thor- ough study and revision.The present study is designed to determine the nature and extent of the taxonomic differences between maskinonge from different parts of its Canadian range.Where practical, the level of identification of 75 per cent of a group has been set as the goal of comparison, as this level of difference is often used in describing subspecies.It is a generous expression of the requirement outlined by Hubbs (1943) that **much more than half of the given population be distinguishable; not necessarily at all times and places, but at least in one sex, at some given stage of development."A taxonomic study of the maskinonge is further complicated by a form known lo- cally as the "true tiger" maskinonge which is now known to be an infertile hybrid between E, masquinongy and E. lucius (Cameron, 1948).This hybrid has distinct dark cross-bars sloping forward and occasionally broken by distinct dark spots; the cheek and opercle are distinctly marked.It is found along with the northern maskin- onge in Maskinonge Lake and Little Vermilion Lake near Sioux Lookout in the Ke- nora district of Ontario.*The name of this fish has appeared in as many as forty-five different forms such as muskel- lunge, muscalonge, masquinonge, maskinonje, moscononge, etc.However, the spelling maskinonge (or the French maskinonge) seems preferable since it is the one used in the statutes of the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.The derivation of the name is likewise disputed, but most authors seem to favour an Indian source.Chambers (1922) discusses this etymology and favours a derivation from the Chippewa mis or mas (large) kenosha (pike).