20 PIKE. 



CHAPTER IV. 



PIKE. 



voracious Fish has a flattish head, the under jaw 

 being rather longer than the upper one and turning up 

 slightly at the point ; the mouth is immensely large 

 and is thickly studded with teeth, the lower jaw being 

 iirnished round the edge with large and sharp canine teeth. 

 The body of a Jack or Pike is long, with small hard scales ; 

 when in season the back is of a greenish gold color shading 

 into a creamy white under the belly, and is beautifully marked 

 on the back and sides with large yellowish spots ; the eyes 

 are bright yellow, so placed in the sockets as to enable the 

 Pike to see what passes above him ; the fins and tail are a 

 dark purply color marked with dark wavy lines. 



Pike, or Jack (as they are termed when small) are found 

 in ponds, lakes, canals and rivers, where there are beds of weeds ; 

 and grow to a very large size, I have seen them weighing 

 40 Ibs. From March to the end of June they are out of 

 season, resorting to ditches and creeks, or the stillest parts 

 of the river for the purpose of spawning ; at such times the 

 small ones take the bait eagerly, but are only fit to be re- 

 turned to the water. From July (on the first of which month 

 Jack-fishing usually commences) to October, they are generally 

 found near, or amongst sedges, water-docks or flag weeds. They 

 are seldom found where the stream is very rapid, but a retreat 

 in the vicinity of a whirlpool, or sharp bend is a favourite 

 locality. In rivers, about the middle of September, when 

 the weeds are rotting, Jack may be observed lying among 

 the weeds, basking in the sun ; appearing too lazy to take a 

 bait, for it is not unusual to see the small fly swimming and 

 playing about their deadly enemy, without his taking the 

 trouble to disturb them. As the Winter approaches, Pike retire 



