30 THE PIKE 



and in course of time, the mere being left alone for 

 four years, the first attempt was made at angling for 

 pike ; a fish of 5 Ib. was soon landed, others were caught, 

 and it was discovered that the water simply swarmed 

 with pike. The perch also had improved in size 

 and numbers, and what was virtually a piece of waste 

 water became a most desirable angling preserve. 



