260 GAR PIKE* 



early as the end of February, whilst others are as late as 

 the month of April. Pike thrive best in smooth, still 

 waters, where they have plenty of food ; and they may be 

 caught with hooks and lines in various ways. They are 

 good eating, but bony ; and differ much, according as 

 the waters which they inhabit are muddy or clear. We 

 are told by a celebrated German writer, that these fish are 

 so tenacious of life, that their belly may be opened and 

 sewed up again without killing them. He says that " this 

 is a frequent practice in England, for the purpose of 

 ascertaining whether they are fat or not ; and that, if they 

 are not fat, they are again put into the water !" 



The Common Pike is chiefly distinguished from the 

 other fish of its tribe by having its snout depressed, and 

 the jaws nearly equal in length. 



Gar Pike. It is a singular circumstance relating to 

 these fish, that when boiled their bones are of a green 

 colour. They arrive on our coasts, in considerable shoals, 

 towards the beginning of summer, and are generally con- 

 sidered to be the forerunners of the mackerel. Their 

 motions are tortuous like those of the eel. They were 

 well known to the ancients, and are described by several 

 of their writers. 



The length of the Gar Pike is sometimes more than 

 three feet. Its form is round and slender. The jaws are 

 very long, slender, and sharp-pointed ; the under one con- 

 siderably longer than the upper. The dorsal fin is on the 

 very lowest part of the back. The tail is much forked. 

 The colours of this fish, whilst in the water, are extremely 

 beautiful : the back is of a fine green, the sides are \ 

 changeable blue and purple, and the belly white and sil- 

 very. 



