The Pike (Esox lucius L.). 



The pike has been introduced into pond culture for two different reasons: 



(1) The pike shall protect carp and tench from predatory fiah (also destroy 

 the brood of such "thieves" and consume any accidental brood of carp 

 and tench, and convert these to usable fish flesh. 



(2) The pike has a market value and is raised for maricet purposes, as 



nursing pond brood or as stock pike. 



In the first case, the fishbreeder keeps a few pike in ponds that are exposed to 

 "wild fishes". Care must be taken, though, that these ponds are stocked only with two- 

 year-old carp, since smaller fish wsuld be devoured by the pike. He is a vorscious 

 feeder, eating up to 30 percent of its own weight. Three kilograms of devoured fish 

 are transformed into 1 kilogreim of pike, according to Scholtz, 



One figures 10 to 20 pike yearlings per hectar (50 of 10 to 20 cm. length at the 

 utmost). The stronger ones of these fish will even eat up the smaller ones, in true 



cannibal fashion. 



If there is a market for pike stock (line fishers, neighbouring fisheries) It Is 

 profitable to set pike brood out in carp ponds. The yound pike feed upon insect larvae 

 during the first summer and by fall reach a length of from 10 to 30 centimeters. 



Due to the great demand for pike brood, sane fisheries are raising it but special 

 provisions have to be made for this purpose. In the spring, spawners are brought into 

 rather large ponds (of some 100 square meters) where they will soon begin to spawn. 

 Immediately after the spawning, the parent fish are removed through drainage of the 

 pond. 



The iTJung brood (first clinging to grass) is able to eat and to swim on the third 

 day; after two weeks, the broodlings are about 2 to 3 centimeters long and after six 

 weeks reach a length of about 6 centimeters. At that time the brood must be fished out, 

 otherwise the stronger ones will devour the weaker ones. This voracity also increases 

 the difficulties of transportation. Always, upon the arrival of such brood their number 

 has usually decreased by 50 percent, and the tail of a smaller fish dangles out of the 

 mouth of a larger one. 



The Perch-pike (Lucioperca sandra). 



The perch-pike also is a predatory fish, that is from its first to the second year, 

 but less adept in hunting. It only catches very small fish and even those only in 

 turbid waters. It is therefore unsulted for "police duty" in ponds but the increased 

 demand for perch-pike stock for lakes is being met by the pond industries, 



Wiedener has recommended to bring one set of spawners into a pond of over 50 centi- 

 meters deptb. 



Here the fish, at a water temperature of about 12 to Li degrees centigrade will 

 deposit their eggs in grooves, in the deeper places of the pond. It is customary to 

 line spots (nests) with spruce or Juniper twigs (in Hungary, bundles of millet are in 

 use) upon which the spawners deposit their eggs. The separated twigs, with their eggs 

 packed in moss can be shipped, if necessary. 



The eggs are then spread out along the shores of carp ponds and protected Trtth other 

 branches or screen-covered boxes. After about 5 or 6 days in April or May, the brood 

 emerges from the eggs. By fall, the broodlings will have reached a length of about 10 

 centimeters. The fishiag-out can be done without difficulties before the carps are 

 fished out, especially when using a "fishing box" or seine. 



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