WINTER. 71 



The character of the fresh-water shark is especially 

 exemplified in the closing sentence of the extract, and the 

 authoress might have gone further and described Esox 

 lucius as a systematic and professional marauder. He 

 respects not his own kith and kin ; he prowls up and down, 

 seeking what he may devour ; and he has no claim upon 

 our consideration except as a furnisher of sport. There 

 are few waters that are exclusively devoted to the breeding 

 and preservation of pike, and, in the majority of rivers 

 and lakes with which I am acquainted, where they are 

 to be found, keeping down these creatures is a general 

 good. 



Spinning is in pike-fishing what the use of the artificial fly 

 is with salmon, trout, and grayling ; it is the most artistic 

 branch of the sport. Pike fishers in one respect re- 

 semble their brethren of the salmon rod, for they are con- 

 tinually inventing new fancies, laying down new theories, 

 trying new experiments, and dogmatising upon them all 

 with a profundity of faith that in these sceptical days is 

 most refreshing to witness. Artificial baits have been 

 invented without end, and for each and all there is some- 

 thing to be said. I shall not venture to discuss them, but 

 I may remark in passing, that artificial baits, from the 

 oldest to the newest, are very useful to the pike angler. 



There are times when it is impossible to procure the 

 natural food of the fish, and there are times, as every 

 angler knows, when a spoon-bait or artificial dace or 

 gudgeon, or one of those beautifully finished imitations of 

 fish in brass, silver, and other less solid compositions, 

 answer better than anything else. But, when the natural 

 baits are to be obtained, let the angler give them a fair 

 trial before he takes out his artificial bait-case. I will 

 illustrate, to the best of my ability, the principal methods 



