124 THE PIKE. 



any arc harbouring near, the lure will most probably 

 be taken, and bolted head first. 



Gold fish may be used as a dernier ressort in a 

 total absence of dace, roach and gudgeon ; but they 

 arc sluggish fish, like all the carp family, and do 

 not work well on snap or livcbait gorge tackles ; 

 under some circumstances, however, I have known 

 pike to take them eagerly, possibly tempted by 

 the change of diet. 



Pike have been caught with young ducks, moor- 

 hens, dabchicks and water rats inside them ; in fact 

 there seems to be no limit to the voracity of a pike. 

 The late Mr. Frank Buckland, in his British Fishes, 

 page 161, mentions an imitation rat-bait, made 

 from the end of a calfs tail, as an excellent lure, 

 which his friend Colonel Martyn used with consider- 

 able success in the extensive reservoir at Ruislip, 

 near Uxbridgc. The following is his recipe: 

 " Procure the tip of the tail of a brown calf ; make 

 a head with a champagne cork ; stick two boot 

 buttons into it for eyes ; attach a piece of leather 

 bootlace for a tail ; and dress with triangle hooks. 

 Big lake pike (who are very artful fellows) will not 

 be up to this calfs tail bait they will take it for 

 a swimming water-rat ; and the chances are they 

 will snap at it, especially on a windy day." 



