1U06 



SCAXDINAVIAN KISIIKS. 



weighing 21 oz. (607 grammes), Bucki.and" found 

 292,320 eggs, and in another weighing 32 lbs. (14' , 

 kilo.), and with ovaries weighing 5 lbs. (274 kilo.), 

 59.1,200. Tiie Pike is thus fairly prolific, but its fe- 

 cundity is not above the average, as compared with 



Fig. 255. A, young Pike 2 days old ;ind hardly 10 mm. long. 

 The vent has not yet divided the vertical emhryonic fin. Pectoral 

 fins rudimentary. No fin-rays. Immediately after hatching the larva 

 is hardly 9 mm. long. /?, young Pike 11 daj-s old and 15 mm. 

 long; a, from the side; h, from above. Vent open. Ventral fins 

 have appeared about half-way along the embryonic fin in front of 

 (he vent. No fin-rays. Distinct teeth in the lower jaw. Opercula 

 developed. (7, young Pike 5 or G weeks old and 20 mm. long. 

 Dorsal and anal fins begin to separate, before the rays are formed. 

 Ill the caudal fin the base seems to develop first, the rays being 

 rather short. /', young Pike 7 or 8 weeks old and 26 mm. long. 

 Of the vertical embryonic fin only a small remnant to be seen under 

 the caudal fin and another, very narrow, from the anal aperture to 

 the ventral fins. All the fius, though thick and rigid, have the com- 

 plete number of rays. In the ventral tins the rays are separated at 

 the base. The upturned tip of the tail still lies, rather large, in the 

 form of a compressed, membranous lobe, above the caudal fin, but 

 is confluent therewith, and no longer shows increase in size. — 

 SUNDEVALL. 



Even in a larva 15 cm. long and between 6 and 7 months old 

 (killed on November 10th and born of an artificial impregnation per- 

 formed in April) the development of all the fins and the cleavage of 

 the branched rays are not much further advanced than in Hemibranchs 

 and Lophobranchs (see above), these rays being compressed, with re- 

 mote articulations, and M'ith short and imperfect, almost exclusively 

 simple division. 



that of other fishes. The eggs, which are at first 

 rather adhesive, lie free on the bottom, and in sprino- 

 (A])ril) require about three weeks to hatch. 



"The new-hatched fry", writes Sundevall, "are 

 short and tliick in shape, with rather large belly (fig. 

 255, A). The coloration is yellowish, but quite trans- 

 parent, and densely punctated on the surface with 

 black dots, a dark l)and running from the eye along 

 the sides of the belly. In coloration, external form, 

 and movement they have some resemblance to tadpoles; 

 but some are much more sparsely punctated with black, 

 and coiisequentl)' of a lighter tone. At first tlie larva 

 remains for tlie most jjart still, ]jreferriiig to lie close 

 to the surface beside plants or floating straws and the 

 like, to which it seems, as it were, to hang, or else 

 at the bottom in less than an inch of water. On being 

 touched, it swims rapidly aliout, with hasty movements 

 of the tail, but soon resumes its former position. In 

 about 10 or 11 days (fig. 255, B) the yolk is ab- 

 sorbed, and the belly much reduced in size, but the 

 head prolongated, with large mouth. It now begins 

 at once to s^vim more steadily, in the same manner 

 as its elders, and goes in quest of prey. It soon 

 abandons the liabit of lying at the bottom or resting 

 alongside floating olijects, repairs to sonie^vhat deeper 

 water, remaining for tiie most part stationary, as if 

 on the watch for prey, and seizes small fishes and 

 other aquatic animals of a size considerable enough 

 in comparison witli its own, but only tliose which it 

 sees moving, just as older Pike .... The external 

 form in which the specific charactei'S of the Pike may 

 be traced (fig. 255, D) seems to be full)- developed at 

 an age of nearly 2 months and a length of about a 

 Swedish inch (25 mm.)." Subsequently the growth 

 proceeds rapidly, as usual, at fii'st, Init \vitli \'ery con- 

 siderable variations, depending on the different supply 

 of food under circumstances favourable in other re- 

 spects. According to some observations a one year 

 old Pike is only 15 cm. long, according to others 30 

 cm. Blancheue states the growth as follows'': 



M. M. 



Maximum length of the Pike at the age of 1 year 0-25— 0-30 



,, „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ 2 years 0-36— 0-42 



„ „ „ „ „ „ „ 3 „ 0-55— 0-60 



„ „ ,, „ „ „ „ „ „ 6 „ 1-00 



, „ „ „ 12 „ 1-35. 



" Nat. Hist. Brit. Fish., p. 387. 

 ' Dictionn. Gen. Peches, p. 116. 



