CHAPTER XI 



THE PIKE 



The Pike — Habits — Distribution — Pike as Food — Angling for Pike. 

 Tenth Family: ESOCID^ : THE PIKES 



The Pike Family is limited to fresh water, and contains but 

 a single genus — Esox — whereof one species, Esox lucius, is 

 common to Europe, Asia, and America. The last-named 

 continent produces, in addition, about five other species, very 

 similar in general appearance and habits to the British pike. 

 It is an ancient type of fish, members of the existing genus 

 having been found in a fossil state *' in the fresh-water chalk 

 of Oeningen and the diluvial marl of Silesia." * 



Fins. 

 Dorsal : 19 rays. 

 Fedora 1 : 15 rays. 

 Ventral : i o rays. 

 Anal : 19 rays. 



The Pike {Esox lucius) 



Teeth. 

 Numerous : those on the mandible re- 

 curved, in a single series, five or six on 

 each side, unequal in size. Bands of 

 sickle-shaped teeth on the vomer, palate, 

 intermaxillary, and hyoid bones. None 

 on the maxillary. 



It has often been asserted that the pike, now universally 

 distributed over Great Britain and Ireland, is not truly 

 indigenous, but was introduced in the same manner as carp ; 



* Giinther, Introduction to the Study of Fishes, p. 624. 



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