250 THB PIKE. 



extended jaws he seizes cm his prey. A young angling acquaint- 

 ance of mine was so taken aback by an apparition of this kind, that 

 he actually dropped his rod from sheer fright, which but for the 

 timely aid of a more steady companion, the pike would probably 

 have dragged off into the pond ; the affair however terminated very 

 differently, as the fish a fine fellow of upwards of twelve pounds 

 was after a stout but ineffectual resistance, himself drawn to shore 

 and safely landed on the grass. 



Another favorite resort of the pikes is the back waters commu- 

 nicating with the main stream ; particularly if such waters are deep 

 and still ; as are also hatch and lock holes, and piles of bridges. 

 They are also frequently met with in shallow fords in search of the 

 small fry that may generally be found playing about there. As 

 winter approaches, pikes retire into the deeps, under clay banks 

 and bushes overhanging the water, and near stumps and roots, 

 which indeed are at all times their favorite haunts. We also read 

 that in the extensive lakes, in the interior of the country at Hud- 

 son's Bay, pikes and perches are taken in those lakes only that are 

 surrounded with woods, and into which trees have fallen, and 

 numbers of the roots of others are protruded into the water ; nor 

 do any of these fishes, ever in the summer season, go down the 

 rivers issuing from the lakes, and which run into what is called 

 the barren ground, where the lakes are not sheltered by trees and 

 bushes. 



In the warmer months, pikes prowl silently about from place to 

 place, resorting to the haunts of the smaller fishes, who, whilst in 

 search of food for themselves, frequently in their own proper per- 

 sons, afford that necessary commodity to their rapacious consumer. 

 This it is, that so frequently causes the smaller kinds of fishes to 

 leave off biting suddenly, we know not why, but which is generally 

 owing to an intrusion of this kind. In waters therefore, in which 

 pike are likely to be met with, no angler should ever fish in, with- 

 out providing himself with pike tackle. A short top of whalebone, 

 with a ring of wire at the end, to be fitted in the place of the 

 ordinary top, is often quite sufficient as far as the rod is concerned, 

 and every person who calls himself an angler, ought always to be 

 provided with a line of sufficient length and strength to hold a 

 moderate sized pike, if skilfully played. By adopting the above 

 plan, an angler would not only obtain a pleasing variety to his day's 

 sport, but often a prize worth more than all the rest of his captures 



