148 PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



will depend in a great measure on the supply he can obtain. 

 Instances have occurred of their growing at the rate of 4 Ibs. 

 a-year for several years, in proof of which Mr. Jesse states that he 

 saw three pikes taken out of a pond in Staffordshire belonging to 

 Sir S. C. Jervoise, two of which weighed 56 Ibs. 



The pond was fished every seven years ; so that supposing 

 store pike of 6 or 7 Ihs. were left in, the growth of the pike in 

 question must have been at least to the extent above stated. Still 

 I apprehend that it can only be under very favourable circumstances 

 that such a rapid increase in growth will take place ; and from the 

 result of my own observations in the different waters I have fished, 

 I am inclined to think that an annual increase of about 2 Ibs. is 

 nearer the usual average ; and in small hungry waters I am certain 

 the growth is much less, . . . whilst Griffiths states that in its first 

 year it is often n or 12 inches long ; in the sixth has been known 

 to measure 6 feet, and in the twelfth about 7 or 8 feet, . . . very 

 probably, also ; as is known to be the case with tench and carp 

 (and the same is also believed with respect to trout), the progeny 

 are inclined to grow large or small in proportion to the parent 

 stock from which the race is propagated. ' The growth of pike,' 

 says Dr. Badham, 'under favourable circumstances, during the 

 earlier portion of life is occasionally at the rate of 4 Ibs. per annum ; 

 after twelve years he diminishes probably to i or 2 Ibs., and lessens 

 still more as age advances.' 



Bowlker says : 



The young are supposed to be of very quick growth, the first 

 year it arrives at the length of from 6 to 10 inches ; the second 12 

 to 15 ; and the thiid from 1 8 to 20 inches. 



According to Hofland, 'if well supplied with food and 

 suitable water, they will increase in weight from 3 to 4 Ihs. 

 annually ;' and Stoddart states that he ascertained pretty accu- 

 rately that the average weight of a two-year-old Teviot fish 

 runs from 2 to 5 Ibs. (a tolerably wide margin !) 



The following is an extract from a letter which I received 

 from Dr. Genxik : 



In Moravia this year a cousin of mine found in one of his carp 

 ponds where always small pikes are put in, and is fished regularly 

 every three years, a pike in splendid condition of 44 Ibs. Austrian. 



