OF GREAT BRITAIN. 73 



was 72 lbs. It was taken in Loch Ken, Galloway, 

 a sheet of water belonging to the Castle of Ken- 

 mure, where the head of the fish is still preserved, 

 and may be seen by any one sufficiently curious 

 or sceptical to desire ocular demonstration. To 

 give a general idea of the size of the Pike, I 

 may quote one measurement — that across the 

 back of the head, — the width of which was nine 

 inches. 



Dr. Genzik, who gave me some valuable in- 

 formation concerning the Continental Pike, states 

 that, in the fish-markets of Vienna, Lintz, and 

 Munich, Pike are not unfrequently exposed for 

 sale of 80 and 90 lbs. weight and upwards, — that 

 the fishermen on the Danube, near Strudel and 

 Wirbel, have legends of specimens 15 and 20 feet 

 long, which break through all their nets, — and 

 that at Traunkirchen, on the Gmiinden Water, 

 there are still living some fishermen who declare 

 that on one occasion when dragging the lake they 

 enclosed a Pike longer than either of their boats, 

 and that they began, as they expressed it, " to say 

 their prayers, thinking the enemy was on their 

 nets ; the Pike, however, with one spring, jumped 

 over the nearest boat and escaped " ! 



At Oberneukirchen Dr. Genzik himself saw a 

 Pike taken out of a large tank or preserve, which 

 after being cleaned, weighed 97 lbs. and some 

 ounces ; and an officer of Tyrolese Rifles informed 

 him that whilst at Bregentz during the past au- 



