ON THE ]\ Y ATURE OF PIKE. 81 



Whether the forbearance of the Pike arises from respect 

 to the healing qualities of the Tench, or is to be attributed 

 to a dislike of the slimy matter on its body, I know not, but 

 I believe the Tench is perfectly free from the persecution 

 suffered by all the other species of fish ; for I have never 

 taken one that has been at all mutilated in its fins, tail, or 

 any other part, or with any of those wounds or scars on 

 the body, which are so frequently met with by the angler 

 among the small fish he takes. The Eel also forgoes 

 his voracity, in regard to the Tench, both by night and 

 day. I have known several trimmers to be laid at night, 

 baited with live fish, Roach, Dace, Bleak, and Tench, each 

 about six or seven inches long ; and when those trimmers 

 were examined in the morning, both Eels and Jack have 

 been taken by the hooks baited with any other fish but 

 the Tench, which I found as lively as when put in the river 

 the preceding night, without ever having been disturbed : 

 this has invariably been the case during my experience; 

 neither have I met with even one solitary instance to the 

 contrary related by any of my acquaintance, who have 

 had numerous opportunities of noticing the singular 

 circumstance of the perfect freedom from death or wounds, 

 which the Tench enjoys over every other inhabitant of the 

 liquid element, arising from the continual conflicts among 

 each other. Pike, when much distressed for food, will seize 

 the smaller of their own species, and also ducks, water 

 rats, mice, frogs, or any other small animal they can 

 meet with they will often seize a small fish, which the 



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