259 THE troller's guide. 





Pike, I must confess, I know but little ; therefore shall 

 say nothing more on the subject, leaving the curioas 

 to consult Natural History of fishes, &c. during unfa- 

 vorable weather ; but, instead thereof, will inform the 

 Angler where he is likely to find both old and young, 

 large and small Jack and Pike, so that he may avoid 

 much loss of time and fruitless labour, when in search 

 of them. 



Jack and Pike are partial to quiet retired places 

 where the water is rather shallow than deep, forming 

 a bend or bay in rivers and large waters, and also re- 

 moved from strong currents, especially if those bends 

 or bays abound with their favorite weed, the pickerell, 

 (on which they are said to feed,) also the candock or 

 water lily, and the shore sides are shaded with tall 

 sedgy sags. Among those sedges. Jack and Pike lay \ 

 (especially during floods, heavy runs of water, and r 

 while the water is thick) a foOt or two below the sur- 

 face, with their noses just projecting from the sedges, 

 looking up stream for what may come within their 

 reach as food ; therefore the Angler, when he trolls in i 

 thick heavy water, must try close in-shore. 



But when the weather is fine, and the water of a 

 proper colour. Jack and Pike occasionally go some 

 yards from their haunts in search of food, particularly 

 to the sharps, shallows, and parts of waters where the 

 bottom is clean, sandy, or gravelly ; because, in such 

 places. Gudgeons, Dace, and other small Fish, delight 

 to resort. In February, (if mild for the season,) Jack 

 and Pike begin to move from their retired situations, 



