190 THE PIKE 



happy hunting grounds of the adjoining trout stream. 

 Observations show that in this manner its species is 

 often distributed over miles of river, to the discomfi- 

 ture of all trout preservers. 



Such typical pike haunts as Alresford Pond, 

 Avington, and Grange Lakes on the river Itchen 

 have poured forth their legions into that river for 

 years. The pike usually select rough, wet, and 

 windy weather when working down stream. That 

 they do not shift their quarters to any extent in flood 

 water may be concluded from the fact that only one 

 jack has been caught in the eelgrates on the Worthys 

 waters during fifty years. Alresford Pond is rapidly 

 becoming silted up with mud and weed, while the 

 amount of netting, wiring, spinning, &c., done on 

 the Itchen lengths below Avington Lake effectually 

 reduces the numbers of escaped jack on that length 

 of the river. To give some idea of the magnitude 

 of a pike invasion I am credibly informed that the 

 average annual bag on four miles of the Worthys water 

 does not fall far short of 550 pike. What would be 

 the final state of this notable chalk stream if opera- 

 tions against the pike were suspended for any con- 

 siderable period may be reasonably predicted. For- 

 tunately in good hands there need be no fear that its 

 future welfare will be overlooked. 



