390 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



Excuse my wandering from my subject, but as I see in 

 memory the Holland River, the little episode narrated rises 

 before me. 



Another river, similar in its characteristics to the Hol- 

 land River, and also a favourite haunt of pike, is the 

 Kankakee, in the northern portion of the State of Indiana, 

 and whether we fished with shiners (resembling minnows) 

 or used the spoon bait, I and my companions were equally 

 fortunate. For a week we tarried here ; the season was 

 early autumn, and seldom at night, when we returned to our 

 encampment, but that each could count from two to three 

 do/en large fish that had succumbed to his skill. During 

 that visit I hooked a monster, and although I twice suc- 

 ceeded in bringing him alongside the boat, I had to suffer 

 the annoyance of seeing him go off with several yards of 

 my tackle. From the position I was in, I was obliged to 

 treat the foe very cavalierly, for the bottom is full of 

 decayed timber, and the limbs of a fallen tree half bridged 

 the water down stream, to gain which my foe made the most 

 determined efforts. 



To state the size of this pike correctly would be a 

 difficult matter; still, from my lengthened experience, 

 I can form an approximate estimate, and do not believe 

 I exaggerate when I say he must have exceeded forty 

 pounds. 



In Southern Illinois, on the tributaries and ponds 

 iiiiir^ining the Wabash, I have killed some very large pike ; 

 bin hero they were not generally so well fed, or so strong 

 'iose of the North. 



In Iowa I have also been very successful in capturing 



