14G 



despair, bat keep trying again. A glance through some 

 of the authentic records of big pike, that have fallen victims 

 to the angler's skill, is enough to encourage anyone to hope 

 on. The Irish largest pike of which there is any reliable 

 account is mentioned in Buckland's " Curiosities of Natural 

 History." This fish was found dead by Martin, the water- 

 bailiff on Lough Corrib, and it measured (the pike, not the 

 lough) 5ft. Sin. long, and would, consequently, weigh from 

 lOOib. to 1121b., according to the approved methods of 

 arriving at weight for length. The famous 721b. pike 

 taken in Lough Ken, co. Galway, was measured by the 

 Eev. TV. Houghton (and attested by the Hon. Mrs. Gordon), 

 who gave the length as 7ft., and breadth of skull, Oin. — 

 a veritable fresh-water shark. Within the past ten years 

 only one English pike has been captured that has been 

 jiroved to exceed 501b., and Norfolk contributed this 

 specimen. Coventry yielded a 351b. male pike in 1890, and 

 the River Lea furnished a twenty-seven pounder in 1891. 

 The largest English pike of which there is any thoroughly 

 trustworthy record was captured in Whittlesea mere, and 

 Aveighed 531b. The champion pike fisherman of the pre- 

 sent generation is Mr. Alfred Jardine, and the top -ueights 

 amongst his exhibits of pike at the "Fisheries" were one 

 of 361b., two of 30^1b. each, and several others over 201b. 

 apiece. These were all English specimens, and the largest 

 was taken at Leeds Castle in 1877. He has since raised 

 this record with a 371b. pike from private waters in the 

 home counties, and his score amongst big pike will 

 lake a lot of beating. December is the best month 

 of the year for pike fishing, as the fish are 

 then in splendid condition and good fighting trim. 

 Later on they become too far advanced towards 

 spawning, and they then show but poor sport to the 

 angler. 



Fly-fishermen, as a rule, profess a great contempt for 

 " Esox lucius," but " hungry dogs eat dirty pudding," and 

 when salmon and trout are out of season there are many 

 worse forms of sport than spinning for pike. He would be 

 a difficult man to please who was not content with a day 



