THE PIKB. 249 



the same thing has not occurred either in a greater or a less de- 

 gree. One instance more is all I shall now mention. This was 

 a space of about half a dozen yards in a navigable canal, by the 

 towing path of which I was in the habit of returning home from 

 trout fishing in a stream that flowed close by its side. Whilst 

 walking along this bank, over which my route lay for about a mile, 

 I used to fix on a short top to my fly rod, and a set of snap tackle, 

 baited with some small fish or other I had caught in the course of 

 the day, which having cast into the stream, I walked leisurely on 

 dragging my bait after me. This water was but ill supplied with 

 pike, being frequently netted, yet in the small distance I before 

 alluded to, which had nothing remarkable about it, or any obsta- 

 cles to prevent its being dragged like the rest, I rarely if ever 

 fished over without obtaining a run, and on one occasion I remem- 

 ber landing no less than four pikes there, one after another, as fast 

 almost as I could cast in, although in other parts of the same 

 waters, which that day I trolled over very carefully, I only caught 

 one very small fish which I immediately threw in again. 



Daniel observes, and as I perfectly agree with him, I may per- 

 haps be excused in expressing myself in his own words. " Pike'* he 

 says, "love a still, shady, unfrequented water, with a sandy, clayey, 

 or chalkey bottom, and from May to the beginning of October, 

 they usually place themselves amongst or near flags, bullrushes or 

 water docks, and particularly under the ranunculus aquations when 

 in flower, and which floats upon the surface." I myself have how- 

 ever found the most depending spots of the whole to be where reeds 

 spring up from under the water, particularly where there are any 

 openings between them, or small ditches near at hand such pla- 

 ces as minnows and small fry are usually found in. In fact reeds 

 and bullrushes to the pike, are as the holly bush to the woodcock ; 

 the cover affording a kind of hiding place to the pike, amongst 

 which he lurks concealed, and springs out unexpectedly upon his 

 unwary prey as it swims heedlessly past, wholly unapprehensive of 

 danger. The way indeed in which a pike manages by the motion- 

 less attitude he assumes to conceal himself from observation, even 

 in a clear open pool, is truly wonderful ; and often have I been 

 startled at the sudden manner, in which like a spectre he has dashed 

 forth from a space apparently void, revealing at once his mighty 

 proportions, which seem instantaneously to form themselves into 

 substance, as with a countenance expressive of wrath, and with 



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