CHAPTER VIII 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE LUCE OR PIKE ; WITH 

 DIRECTIONS HOW TO FISH FOR HIM 



[ffourtb 2>al 



Pise. The mighty Luce or Pike is taken to be the tyrant, 

 as the salmon is the king, of the fresh waters. It is not 

 to be doubted, but that they are bred, some by generation, 

 and some not,* as namely, of a weed called pickerel weed, 

 unless learned Gesner be much mistaken, for he says, this 

 weed and other glutinous matter, with the help of the 

 sun's heat, in some particular months, and some ponds 

 apted for it by nature, do become pikes. But, doubtless, 



* The simplicity of Walton is here manifest. To fancy " pickerel- 

 weed " or any other plant producing fish by means of the sun's heat 

 is exceedingly ridiculous, but not more so than the modern belief 

 of many persons that horse-hair thrown into ponds will become 

 eels. Reader, all river fish have productive spawn. All female fish 

 have ova or eggs, commonly called the " hard roe " ; all male river 

 fish have milts usually named the soft roe. Unless the former be 

 impregnated by the latter, there will be no reproduction. The 

 salmon tribe deposit their spawn beneath gravel beds ; the carp 

 tribes on and amongst the subaqueous portions of aquatic plants 

 to which the spawn adheres by its inherent viscous properties. 

 Mr. Elaine (Encyclopedia of Rural Sports, p. 1102), accurately 

 states : " Jack and pike spawn either in March or April, according 

 to the forwardness of the spring or temperature of the atmosphere, 

 as well as the situation of the water. They retire for the repro- 

 ductive purpose in pairs, quitting the rivers for the creeks and 

 ditches. When confined in still waters they seek the stillest parts 

 of them, and frequently occupy a mud-bed, or remain towards the 

 edges or shallows, depositing their spawn among aquatic plants, 

 of which the reed and rush varieties are favourites. The male 

 may be seen during this time accompanying the female with much 

 attention, and when the fecundating milt has been deposited over 

 the ova, the pair retire into deep water, and seem to feel no further 

 solicitude for the result of the process." E. 



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