ODDS AND ENDS 



seagoing British fish, it may be of interest to help to throw 

 a Httle Hght on his habits. 



It is a disputed point at what age pike begin to spawn, 

 and their rapidity of growth is but Uttle known. 



Curiously enough, I think that I can throw some light on 

 both questions. 



There is a moat, partly touching and partly round the house 

 where I live in Sussex. The water is supplied by chalk springs, 

 and no other water flows in, so that it is always clear, and level. 

 It is also pretty deep in parts. 



When I went there, the moat was full of roach and pike. 

 I wanted to clear these out in order to introduce trout. I 

 let down the water as far as I could, netted the fish, and then 

 limed the springs and mud to make sure of killing any remain- 

 ing fish or spawn. This plan proved very successful, for no 

 pike or roach have ever appeared since. 



This was in September, 1904. My predecessor had at- 

 tempted in the spring of 1898 to do likewise, but, though leav- 

 ing it exposed, he did not lime the mud. He had, however, 

 as he thought, completely cleared the place of fish, especially 

 of pike. 



When I let down the water and netted it six years and a 

 half later, I found (including five that had been caught spinning 

 a little time before) fourteen pike of 6 lb. each and over, weigh- 

 ing 123 lb., or an everage of 8f lb. 



The respective rough weights were as follows : lbs. 14, 

 i3»9.9>9>7>7»7>7>7. 6, 6,6, 6. 



Besides these large fish, there were swarms of young pike 



II 



