ISO PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



taxidermist, no matter how scientifically tittivated in the ordi- 

 nary manner. Besides Mr. Jardine's ' pike aforesaid, alone 

 worth going to the Exhibition to see there was in the same 

 gallery a very beautiful cast of a grayling of about 2 Ibs. 

 weight, which was a model of fish-loveliness, and seemed to 

 do everything but swim. I am very sorry that I have for- 

 gotten the names of the artists by whom these casts were made, 

 so that I am not able to associate their names with their 

 exhibits. 



To return. There is, as I was observing, a civil sort of 

 disbelief amongst modern writers and their readers as to the 

 accounts of very large pike, although these are handed down 

 to us in many cases by witnesses in every way credible. The 

 prevailing impression appears to be that a weight of 30 Ibs., or 

 at the utmost 40 Ibs., is about the real maximum of weight 

 attained by this fish. 



I could easily refer, however, to many attested examples of 

 pike having been taken in the British Islands up to the weight 

 of 70, 80, or even 90 Ibs. ; but a single instance, too well 

 authenticated to admit of doubt, will suffice. I refer to the 

 case of the Kenmure Pike mentioned also by Daniel in his 

 ' Rural Sports,' and by Dr. Grierson and other authors the 

 weight of which was 72 Ibs. It was taken in Loch Ken, 

 Galloway, a sheet of water belonging to Kenmure Castle, 

 where the head of the fish is still preserved, and may be seen by 

 anyone sufficiently curious or sceptical to desire ocular demon- 

 stration. 



To the Hon. Mrs. Bellamy Gordon, of Kenmure Castle, 

 my best acknowledgments are due for an interesting account, 

 written on the spot, of this gigantic pike and its capture, as well 

 as for a photograph of the head of the fish, as it now appears, 

 with its proportions. These latter would be scarcely intelligible 

 without the assistance of the photograph ; but, to give a general 

 idea of the size of the fish, I may quote one measurement 



1 The fish casts exhibited by Mr. Jardine were, I understand, executed by 

 my friend, the late Mr. Frank Buckland, and painted by Rolfe. 



