PIKE IN TROUT WATERS 201 



the trout's natural enemies, but I cannot believe that 

 where it is merely an occasional visitor it would 

 prevent the trout from surface feeding, unless per- 

 adventure the pike's lair was in close proximity to 

 the trout's rising station. It does not seem at all 

 likely that a trout would be so indiscreet as gaily to 

 rise at flies, knowing that from its place of conceal- 

 ment some hungry pike was watching every movement 

 and only waiting for a favourable opportunity to snap 

 it up in its jaws. 



On a small river bordering the county of Herts 

 I am firmly convinced that one of the reasons 

 why trout take so badly now is that, through 

 neglect, the water is over-run by pike. There 

 are still trout in different parts, and formerly 

 during the May fly season they provided excellent 

 sport. Two years ago I was privileged to have a 

 couple of days' fishing there, and notwithstanding 

 that the show of May fly was quite considerable very 

 few fish were taking them. Those which I succeeded 

 in killing rose in the shallower parts, where the pike 

 did not habitually lie. If their abstention from sur- 

 face feeding in the deeper parts was not due to the 

 near presence of pike, I can think of no other satis- 

 factory explanation. May flies were plentiful, trout 

 were there, because I had seen them earlier in the 



