322 PIKE. Class IV. 



even contend with the otter for its prey, and endea- 

 vour to force it out of its mouth *. 



Small fifh fhew the fame uneafinefs and detefla- 

 tion at the prefence of this tyrant, as the little birds 

 do at the fight of the hawk or owl. When the 

 pike lies dormant near the furface (as is fre- 

 quently the cafe) the leffer fifh are often obferved 

 to fwim around it in vaft numbers, and in great 

 anxiety. Pike are often haltered in a noofe, and 

 taken while they lie thus afleep, as they are often 

 found in the ditches near the Thames in the month 

 of May. 



In the fhallow water of the LincolnJJoire fens they 

 are frequently taken in a manner peculiar, we be- 

 lieve, to that county, and the ifle of Ceylon -f\ 

 The fifhermen make ufe of what is called a crown- 

 net, which is no more than a hemifpherical bafker, 

 open at top and bottom. He (lands at the end 

 of one of the little fenboats, and frequently puts 

 his bafket down to the bottom of the water, then 

 poking a flick into it, difcovers whether he has 

 any booty by the ftriking of the fifh ; and vaft 

 numbers of pike are taken in this manner. 

 Longevity. The longevity of this fifh is very remarkable, if 

 we may credit the accounts given of it. Rzaczyn- 

 Jki\ tells us of one that was ninety years old*, 



* Walton* 157. 



f Knox's Hi ft, Ceylon, 28. 



\ Hi ft* Nat. Pclonia?, 152. 



but 



