Pike. 33 



arc said to feed ; or where there are water-lilies, and the shore 

 side is shaded with tall sedgy sags. During floods, or when the 

 water is thick, pike lie among these sedges a foot or two below 

 the surface of the water, with their noses just projecting from the 

 weeds looking up the stream for whatever may come within their 

 reach in the shape of food. When the weather is fine and the 

 water clear, pike go several yards from their haunts in search of 

 food, particularly to the shallows, and parts of waters where the 

 bottom is clean and sandy or gravelly ; because to such places 

 gudgeon, dace, and other small fish delight to resort. The natural 

 food of pike is small fish, of which they eat all kinds except perch 

 and tench. The perch are free from the attacks of pike on 

 account of their prickly dorsal-fin, which they elevate when 

 alarmed. The tench is the physician of fishes and is spared 

 even by the pike. When distressed for food pike will devour the 

 smaller of their own species, ducks, water-rats, mice, frogs, or any 

 other small animal they can meet with. They have been known 

 to swallow the leaden plummet that an angler is taking the depth 

 with. Being as bold as they are voracious, they will, when driven 

 by hunger, dispute with the otter for his prey ; and they have 

 even been known to attack bathers. 



In February, if mild for the season, pike begin to move from 

 their retired situations, and congregate in those parts of pools or 

 rivers where small streams empty themselves or run into larger 

 waters. In March or April they spawn, retiring in pairs to the 

 stillest part of the waters, and deposit their spawn among weeds 

 which have thick stems, such as the candock and water-lily, and 

 in default of these about the roots of any bull-rushes. From 

 March till September pike are not in a vigorous state, seeming 

 more inclined to doze and bask in the sun than to feed ; and at 

 those times it is not unusual to see numerous small fish swimming 

 round their dreaded enemy for hours without his disturbing them, 

 though, usually, when in good condition, they dart away with the 

 greatest velocity from him, while eels bury themselves in the mud 

 on his approach. 



It was at one time believed that pike were produced from the 

 pickerell weed, because it was found in ponds where it had not 

 been before, in which the pickerell grew. The usual explanation 

 given now, I believe, is that herons or other birds feed on the 

 spawn after it has been fertilized, and let some of it fall from their 

 mouths in their flight. 



