308 PIKE A ND PIKE-FISHING. 



heads, moreover, or the pools superintending them are 

 favourite haunts with this fish ; the rich mould which 

 settles and remains in many of them, after floods, con- 

 ducing to the growth of various kinds of water-weeds, 

 such as the pickerel, &c., the varied depth, also, and 

 limitation of currents being in accordance with its 

 tastes and habits. 



Some naturalists affirm that the pike is a solitary 

 fish. This I hold to be quite a mistake. They are, at 

 certain seasons, as gregarious, if not more so, than the 

 trout. True, they do not swim exactly side by side, 

 like perch ; but, as accords with their size and rapacity, 

 maintain a wider range ; and when on the bask, or in 

 sunning humour, distribute themselves along the mar- 

 gin or plot of floating weeds, at short distances, each 

 seemingly having its own lurking-place apportioned to 

 it. I have captured frequently five or six pike, one 

 after the other, out of the same hole, and from the same 

 stance ; although, in experimenting previously, for the 

 space of an hour over the cast, I was unable to detect 

 the presence of a single fish. None, in fact, I am con- 

 vinced, were at that time upon the spot, and they had 

 evidently, in the interval, taken possession of it, as a 

 body, not as individuals. 



As to the weather and state of water best suited for 

 pike-fishing, the former I esteem most when dull and 

 warm ; there being at the time a breeze from the south 

 or south-west. Sunny glimpses, now and then, are 

 not unfavourable, and the approach of thunder, so 

 inimical to the hopes of the trout fisher, may be held 

 auspicious. On cold days, however windy, pike seldom 

 bite well, although in Teviot, during the Spring season, 

 I have met with exceptions. In this river also, I have 

 noticed that these fish are in high humour for taking 



