chap, vin.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 143 



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 gluti- 

 nous 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 

 divers Pikes are bred after this manner, or are 

 brought into some ponds some such other ways as 

 are past man's finding out, of which we have daily 

 testimonies. 



Sir Francis Bacon, in his History of Life and Death, 

 observes the Pike to be the longest-lived of any 

 fresh-water-fish, and yet he computes it to be not 

 usually above forty years ; and others think it to 

 be not above ten years : and yet Gesner mentions a 

 Pike taken in Swedeland in the year 1449, with a 

 ring about his neck, declaring he was put into that 

 pond by Frederick the Second, more than two hun- 

 dred years before he was last taken, as by the in- 

 scription in that ring, being Greek, was interpreted 

 by the then Bishop of Worms. But of this no more, 

 but that it is observed, that the old or very great 

 Pikes have in them more of state than goodness ; 

 the smaller or middle-sized Pikes, being by the most 

 and choicest palates observed to be the best meat : 

 and, contrary, the Eel is observed to be the better 

 for age and bigness. 



All Pikes that live long prove chargeable to their 

 keepers, because their life is maintained bv the 

 death of so many other fish, even those of their own 

 kind ; which has made him bv some writers to be 



