36 ART OF ANGLING. 



but the flesh of a Pike when about two feet long 

 is to be preferred, being far more delicious and 

 grateful to the palate. It is in its prime in Sep- 

 tember and October, but is considered good 

 from Midsummer till Christmas. The longevity 

 of this fish is very remarkable ; it is asserted 

 that it will live to be upwards of an hundred 

 years old. 



The Pike is a very solitary fish, and is partial 

 to the deepest and most obscure parts of the 

 river, which has sand or gravel upon the bot- 

 tom, generally taking its station near the side ; 

 it is also frequently found in quiet retired pla- 

 ces where the water is rather shallow than deep, 

 forming a bend or bay in rivers, especially if 

 the sides of such places are shaded with tall 

 segs or bull-rushes ; among these the Pike lies, 

 particularly during floods, a foot or two below 

 the surface, with its nose just projecting from 

 the rushes or segs, looking up the stream for 

 whatever food may come within its reach. But 

 when the river is of a proper colour, it goes oc- 

 casionally, towards the dusk of evening, some 

 yards from the haunts above-mentioned in search 

 of food ; particularly to fords or shallows where 

 small fish frequent. 



From the time of spawning till August Pike 

 are not in a vigorous state, appearing more in- 

 clined to doze and bask in the sun near the top 



