ISUB JPRS 
(sox luctus) 
Tur pike is distributed over Great Britain and Ireland. Many of the 
lochs and rivers in Scotland contain fine pike, but they are seldom 
fished for. In England and Ireland, however, they are much more 
sought after. The smaller ones weighing from 2 to 3 lbs. are called 
Jack. Pike spawn in March. They approach the shore and attach 
the spawn to reeds and branches of trees, where it remains until 
hatched. 
By the end of August, if the feeding is good, they are half a 
pound in weight, and after another year weigh about 2 lbs. After 
this, if they can procure plenty of food, they feed continuously and 
grow rapidly. Their principal food is living fish that frequent loch 
or stream; nothing comes amiss to them, not even members of 
their own species. Where trout and the young of the salmon can 
be got they prefer them to any others. They will, however, swallow 
frogs, ducks, waterhens, rats, or any other living thing that appears on 
the water. 
I have had occasion to net pike on the river Tay and its tributaries, 
for the purpose of reducing their number, and on many occasions I 
have found them stuffed full of smolts and parr. The destruction 
thus caused must be very great, and when they are allowed to increase 
in a stream or loch trout very soon disappear. In streams they 
take up their abode in quiet corners, and remain perfectly still, 
watching for a trout to come within reach. When it does so they 
dart after it with great rapidity, and if the unfortunate trout gets 
Zaly7, QFE 
