72 THE SPORTING FISH 



Ausonius, however, living about the middle of the 

 fourth century, clearly alludes to the Pike in his 

 well-known lines : — 



" Lucius obscurus ulva lacunas 



Obsidet. Hie, nullos meusarum lectus ad usus, 



Fumat fumosis olido nidore popinis." 



The age to which the Pike will attain has been 

 always a debated point amongst naturalists. Pen- 

 nant mentions one ninety years old. Pliny con- 

 sidered it as the longest-lived, and likely to reach 

 the greatest age, of any fresh-water fish ; while 

 Sir Francis Bacon, agreeing in this view, yet 

 limited its probable maximum to forty years. 



In natural connexion with this part of the sub- 

 ject — the limit of age in the Pike — occurs that of 

 its probable growth and size when suffered to 

 attain to full development. It has been the 

 custom amongst modern writers to aftect a civil 

 disbelief in the accounts of very large Pike handed 

 down to us by numerous credible witnesses ; and 

 the prevailing impression appears to be that a 

 weight of 30 or 40 lbs. is about the real maximum 

 attained. I could easily refer, however, to many 

 attested examples of Pike having been taken in 

 the British Islands up to the weight of 70, 80, and 

 even 90 lbs. ; but a single instance, too well au- 

 thenticated to admit of doubt, will suffice. I refer 

 to the case of the Kenmure Pike — mentioned also 

 by Daniel in his " Rural Sports," and by Dr. 

 Grierson and other authors — the weight of which 



