160 ON SURREY HILLS. 



That 'ere chawly was a leetle different, an' the jack 

 snapped him." 



Before dismissing our pike, I would just state that 

 where they are kept in proper that is, moderate 

 number, they are valuable enough, and, as a rule, 

 large where the food is good. I have, however, known 

 waters where, owing to some mistaken notion, it was 

 not allowed to angle for them, and in such they 

 dwindled down to little more than the size of a large 

 herring ; and so many of them were there, that not a 

 sign of other fish was visible. Fish of prey they cer- 

 tainly are, and when they have to feed on one another 

 the diet does not in any way suit them. When things 

 get to that pass, the only thing to be done is to sweep 

 the lot out, run the pool' dry and clean it, and then 

 after a time introduce fresh stock. 



A great outcry has been made against pike getting 

 into certain waters ; yet I think they are beneficial 

 in moderate numbers in preserved waters. They 

 keep coarse fish, such as roach and others, in proper 

 proportions. When a pond is overstocked with roach, 

 dace, and tench, the angler will often get a day's 

 annoyance instead of a day's fishing. 



Where you find pike, you will generally come across 



