PIKE FISHING IN LAKES 33 



of the popularisation of the sport, with a perhaps 

 necessary if not defiant interference with private 

 rights, has been the gradual closing of many pike- 

 haunted lagoons. The East Anglian Broads repre- 

 sent the least beautiful, from a scenic standpoint, of 

 the English lakes if lakes, indeed, they may be called 

 when they are mostly connected by water lanes 

 right away to the sea. Dutch-like entirely are the 

 landscapes, though some of the smaller Broads are 

 delightfully environed by woods, and all of them are 

 beautified by their forests of reeds, which wave like 

 the green banners of a great host in the summer, 

 and rustle in acreage of khaki spears during the 

 winter. They are the homes of countless water-fowl 

 and the immemorial abode of pike, with an abundant 

 supply of coarse fish to keep the* breed in vigour. 



Then there are the meres of Cheshire and Shrop- 

 shire, not so well known as the Broads to the town 

 angler and tourist, but tested often by local sports- 

 men ; and there is a noted mere in Yorkshire 

 (Hornsea), which is fished regularly by a limited 

 company of rods, and is perhaps one of the best 

 pike preserves in the country. In Devonshire are 

 Slapton and Torcross Leys, both abounding with pike. 



It is my purpose in this chapter, however, rather 

 to recall typical angling in pike lakes which it has 



D 



