ij8 r/^^BRITISH ANGLER. P.II. 



fpringing Brook in March^ will be eighteen 

 Inches long the next March. A River Pike 

 grows fail till he arrives at twenty-four or near 

 thirty Inches in Length : Then he ftands a 

 Jittle more at Stay, and fpreads himfelf in 

 Thicknefs : Afterwards he will be much lon- 

 ger growing to his full Bignefs, which is about 

 forty-five Inches, from thirty Inches, then he 

 was increafing to the Length of thirty. 



In ftoring of Ponds with Tike^ put in all 

 your Fifh of a Bignefs ; for a Pike of thirty 

 Inches will devour one of fifteen. Some grow 

 more in Length, others in Thicknefs, which 

 latter Sort are the firmeil Fifhes : For a lean 

 flenderPi/^d', tho' he feem to advance in Length, 

 is commonly in a decaying Condition, by 

 reafon of fome outward Wound from the Ot- 

 ter, or fome llronger of his own Kind, or an 

 inward Prick by the Hook, or fome other 

 Cafualty, Yet even in this Condition, he will 

 be as hungry and greedy as ever. 



The Pike loves a fliil, fhady, and unfre- 

 quented Place -, fandy, chalky, or clay Bot- 

 toms i ftill Pools full of Fry ; and, the better 

 to furprize his Prey unawares, fhelters himfelf 

 amongft Eull-rufhes, Weeds, Water-docks or 

 Buflies. He often bites about the Middle of 

 the River or Pond, and always about Mid- 

 water ; the Bait generally being in a continual 

 and gentle Motion, and never to be lefs than 

 a Foot from the Ground. 



In ApriU May, June^ and the Beginning 

 oijuly^ he bites belt early in the Morning, 



and 



