Pike. 



27 



this respect they participate to an 

 exceptional degree in the advan- 

 tages of natural selection. They 

 adapt themselves to their sur- 

 roundings, mimicking in tint the 

 changing flora of the river. The 

 predominant colour of their skin 

 in the early season is green, 

 varied with yellow and white. It 



of large specimens. The ova are 

 deposited on weeds in shallows 

 and backwaters, where they are 

 not likely to be swept away. 

 Many large pike are found in 

 streams and ditches during the 

 spawning season, and some of 

 the largest fish lose their lives in 

 that way. In Ireland a price is 



A PIKE POOL ON THE STOUR. 



takes an olive shade in winter, 

 very similar to the colour of the 

 water-plants, which have by that 

 time lost all their verdant fresh- 

 ness. Pike spawn in March and 

 April, laying eggs which vary in 

 quantity according to the size of 

 the female fish. Many hundreds 

 of thousands mark the prolificacy 



put on their heads, in and out of 

 season, in defence of trout and 

 salmon. The eggs are hatched 

 in from a fortnight to three weeks. 

 The angling season opens in the 

 middle of June. It may be pointed 

 out, however, that pike taken so 

 early are worthless. They are in 

 wretched condition, and give little 



