1996, estimated abundance of northern pike esox lucius within Harding Lake was 3,377 fish (SE = 915) for northern pike 300 mm FL, 2,576 fish (SE = 698) for northern pike 450 mm FL, and 319 fish (SE = 86) for northern pike 625 mm FL. Estimated density of northern pike 300 mm FL was 3.4 (SE = 0.04) fish per hectare. The estimated proportion was 0.24 (SE = 0.07) for northern pike from 300 to 449 mm FL; 0.67 (SE = 0.13) for northern pike from 450 to 624 mm FL; and, 0.09 (SE = 0.04) for northern pike 625 mm FL. In 1996, estimated recruitment (abundance of age-5 fish) was 781 northern pike (SE = 212). Estimated abundance was 533 fish (SE = 144) for northern pike < age-5 and 2,844 fish (SE = 771) for northern pike > age-5. The mean error in assigning the proper incremental ages from the scales of 112 northern pike recaptured in 1996 from 1995 was -0.40 years (Z = 4.04; P 0.01); 0.18 years (Z = 1.12; P = 0.26) for 22 northern pike that were age-5 in 1996; and -0.54 years (Z = 4.78; P 0.01) for 90 northern pike age-6 in 1996. The estimated average percent error of the scale reader in reproducing the same age twice from a Harding Lake northern pike scale in 1996 was 3.4%. For Harding Lake northern pike, indirect estimated values for maximum sustainable yield was 298 fish, for the number of northern pike spawners needed to produce maximum sustainable yield 2,134, and for the carrying capacity of Harding Lake 4,268 spawning size northern pike ( 450 mm FL).