ISO BRITISH FRESHWATER FISHES 



die simply from inability to capture food or to 

 assimilate it. Such was probably the history of 

 the 39-lb. Loch Ken Pike described above. 



Nothing definite can be said as to the age to 

 which a Pike may live, although it is probable 

 that fish of 60 or 70 lbs. weight are at least as 

 many years old. But although Pike are reputed 

 to live to a very great age there are not, so far as I 

 am aware, any satisfactory proofs that they actually 

 do so. 



A remarkable fact in the life-history of the 

 Pike is the way in which it spreads, and Mr. Pennell 

 inclines to the hypothesis that in wet weather it 

 may travel overland from one pond to another, 

 and gives some curious instances in support of this. 

 Probably the appearance of Pike in unexpected 

 places is often due to the fact that the young are 

 hatched out in ditches at a time when these are 

 full and temporarily connected with pieces of water 

 which are afterwards isolated ; a rut full of water is 

 almost enough for the passage of an infant Pike. 



Nowadays Pike are generally not held in much 

 repute as food, but a river fish of medium size taken 

 in the autumn or winter is by no means bad if 

 properly cooked. In the Middle Ages they were 

 esteemed as food - fishes, and were a feature of 

 every banquet; Macpherson tells us that in 1298 

 Edward I authorized Robert de Clifford to let the 

 Bishop of Carlisle have sixty jacks to stock the 

 moats of Carlisle Castle, whilst Walton, after giving 

 elaborate directions how to prepare and cook a 

 Pike, quaintly says, " This dish of meat is too 

 good for any but anglers, or very honest men." 



