142 PHYSOSTOMI. 



mouth of the other, the snout coming out at the gills of the fish which was 

 holding it. 



Ekstrom mentions finding a 20 lb. pike with the skeleton of an osprey, Falco 

 Jialicetus, still attached to it. Lloyd likewise observes that Dr. Mellerborg, of the 

 Uddeholm establishment, vouched for having seen an enormous pike with an eagle 

 fastened to its back, lying dead in a piece of ground which had been overflowed 

 but from which the water had retreated. 



Pike have been captured by trimmers having swallowed two separate baits, 

 as if showing that they do not suffer much pain when being hooked. Pennell 

 gives an account how a trimmer having been set in the Avon, a heavy pike was 

 found captured the next morning, on opening it a second one of considerable size 

 was seen, while inside this second was a third of about f lb. weight. 



It has obtained credit for one good trait (in addition to its eating its younger 

 relatives) and that is that it has been said not to devour tench in consideration of 

 its being its medical attendant. For the popular belief in many localities is that 

 it rubs itself against the pike's wounds and exudes mucus which possesses healing 

 virtues. In a work Civitates, Orbis, Terrarum (Colon, 1572-1606) are repre- 

 sentations of a series of English costumes and a view of selling live pike. There 

 the custom is shown of how the vendor cut open the belly of the fish in order to 

 show its condition, this was stiched up again if a purchaser was not found and 

 returned to the water. But unfortunately it has been repeatedly proved that if 

 hungry, the pike will make a meal off the tench, while the troller is aware that 

 this fish may successfully be employed as bait. 



During periods of great droughts, pike are often found to disappear 

 mysteriously from some pieces of water reappearing on the recurrence of rain. 

 Mr. Pennell gives an account how one was found jumping and working about in 

 the wet grass, evidently making its way from the breeding ground to the river 

 distant some half dozen yards, two-thirds of which distance it had traversed. 

 It is suggested they may travel like eels over dewy grass, and several instances 

 are related how pike have appeared in ponds or pieces of water in a most unaccount- 

 able manner. Isaak Walton observed that it is not to be doubted but that they 

 are bred, some by generation, and some not, as namely, of a weed called " pickerel- 

 weed," unless learned Gesner be much mistaken. No doubt this weed in which 

 the spawn is often deposited, may, if removed to another pond, be a means of 

 stocking it with pike, or such may occur in other ways through the instrumentality 

 of frogs or aquatic mammals (see Introduction). 



Considerable differences of opinion exist with reference to the desirability of 

 having pike in fisheries : but there are few who would advocate the cultivation of 

 this voracious monster where salmon and trout thrive. Their introduction into 

 the Teviot, says Stoddart, has, there is no question, conduced very materially to 

 injure the salmon fishing, nor have the trout remained wholly unscathed. He 

 observes upon having taken 5 or 6 salmon fry out of the stomach of a single fish : 

 and also states that in some Scottish Lochs pike have been known to consume 

 their own weight of bait every day. Pennell computes that in stews a 5 lb. or 

 6 lb. fish would eat, if permitted, twice its own weight of fish every week. 

 While, as I have already remai-ked (page 104), pike in trout preserves not only 

 diminish the inhabitants but scare them to that extent that they become timorous 

 of feeding, and frequently occasion great falling off in the general condition of the 

 trout. 



On the other hand it has been contended that it gives sport to the angler 

 when the fly-book is closed due to droughts, or else during the cold months 

 of the year, and pike will not destroy fish ova. While it may be introduced 

 into canals, lakes, meres, and sluggish rivers, where no good fish will flourish. In 

 Wild Sports of the Highlands it is observed that in all lakes of considerable 

 size where the pike were plentiful the trout have improved very much in size and 

 quality, and not diminished in numbers to any great extent. There are doubtless 

 localities where this fish is suited for, but their undue increase has to be guarded 

 against, because with their ravenous appetites and rapid digestion they require a 



