The Pike 219 
they fall back again into the deeper pools. Their movements are 
performed so quietly that it is difficult to know whether they are in 
a pool or not. They are also very difficult to net, for if the bottom of 
the river be full of mud they will sink into it and allow the net to 
pass over them. If there is no mud they keep near the surface and 
watch what is going on, and so keep clear of it. 
Two large pike used to frequent a pool on the river Earn below 
a weir, which was regularly netted, but the pike always escaped 
capture. I have often watched their movements from the top of this 
weir. If they were near the side I was on, and I stood opposite them, 
they at once moved quietly away, keeping within a foot of the surface 
and proceeding sideways often for a distance of 60 yards. As soon 
as I went out of their sight they gradually returned to their favourite 
haunts. When once disturbed they act so warily that it is very 
difficult to catch them with a sweep-net. A drift or hang net left in 
the water during night suits the purpose better. 
During hot weather, in summer, many pike frequent shallow water 
and bask in the sun. Here they can easily be shot. In lochs which 
contain nothing but pike attempts to reduce their number often defeat 
the end in view, for only the large ones are captured, and the small 
ones are left without fear of being molested by their larger brethren. 
Owing to the small price obtained for pike in the market they are not 
worth keeping for profit. These found in stagnant lochs are not 
at all palatable, but those caught in clear lochs where the food is 
plentiful, and those got in rivers, are usually good for the table. 
One often hears of very large pike being caught, but as far as I 
can learn no pike has been caught in this country during the last 
forty years whose weight has exceeded 45 lbs., and very few have 
been caught 35 lbs. in weight. 
