PIKE. 21 



into deeps, under clay banks, or where bushes overhang the 

 water, and where sunken roots of trees, and stumps afford 

 them a stronghold. 



The most favourable weather for Jack-fishing, is when a 

 slight breeze blows from the south-west, sufficient to ripple 

 the water ; and the day cloudy and dull. Thick water is 

 not favourable, for during a flood, which causes a coloured 

 water, Jack and Pike keep close in-shore, among the rushes, 

 and sedges, which grow near the banks ; or in the still bends 

 of rivers to keep out of the rapid current, remaining almost 

 stationary until the waters clear and subside ; but as soon as 

 this occurs, then comes the Angler's turn, for having been 

 for some time on short allowance, they are then bold, vora- 

 cious, and will fearlessly take the bait. 



The voracity of the Pike is well known to be enormous. 

 In April, 1863, whilst spinning for Trout at Mario w, my gut 

 flight was bitten off by a Jack ; putting on a fresh flight and 

 bait, I threw in the same direction as before, the very first 

 throw I caught him, with the first flight still in his mouth ; 

 and know of many similar occurrences. There are several 

 instances of Pike being choked through trying to swallow one 

 but slightly smaller than themselves. There is a case men- 

 tioned of a large Pike seizing a Swan by the head while it 

 was groping for food among the weeds in a lake. He got 

 the head down, but the body was too large even for his 

 capacious jaws ; being unable to disgorge, he was choked, 

 and the bodies were found a few days afterwards on the shore. 

 They will in fact, seize anything, from a Swan to a leaden 

 plummet. While an Angler was plumbing the depth in a 

 roach-swim, in the Lea, some time since, a Jack of two pounds 

 took the plummet ; he was safely landed, owing to the hook 

 projecting slightly from the side of the plummet. 



|f ACK-FISHING may be classed under four heads viz : 

 Spinning, Live-bait-fishing, Trolling, and Snap-fishing. 

 Spinning is by far the most scientific and interesting 

 method of fishing for Pike, requiring some amount of 

 muscular exertion to practise it properly. The most useful 

 Rod is of mottled cane ; from twelve to thirteen feet in length, 



