HABITS OF THE PIKE. 287 



THE PIKE. Esox Lucius. 



THE pike, commonly called jack when under three 

 or four pounds in weight, is a well-known fish ; 

 like many of us, better known than trusted or 

 treated. He is a greedy, unsociable, tyrannising 

 savage, and is hated like a Blue Beard. Every 

 body girds at him with spear, gaff, hook, net, 

 snare, and even with powder and shot. He has 

 not a friend in the world. The horrible gorge 

 hook is specially invented for the torment of his 

 maw. Notwithstanding, he fights his way vigor- 

 ously, grows into immense strength, despite his 

 many enemies, and lives longer than his greatest 

 foe, man. His voracity is unbounded ; and, like 

 the most accomplished corporate officers, he is 

 nearly omnivorous, his palate giving the prefer- 

 ence, however, to fish, flesh, and fowl. Dyspepsia 

 never interferes with his digestion ; and he pos- 

 sesses a quality that would have been valuable at 

 La Trappe he can fast without inconvenience 

 for a se'nnight. He can gorge himself then to 

 beyond the gills without the slightest derangement 

 of the stomach. He is shark and ostrich combined. 



