PIKE. 45 



surprise, found they had both caught the same fish, 

 which was a very fine Pike, weighing upwards of 

 five pounds. The trollers conjectured that after 

 the Pike had pouched the first bait, he swam up the 

 stream, and on his return seized the other. There 

 was an amicable dispute as to each other's right to 

 the prize ; but it terminated over a glass of grog, 

 and Mr. "Wild bagged the voracious animal. 



The smaller kind of fish are said to show the 

 same uneasiness and detestation at the presence 

 of a Pike, as the smaller birds do at the sight of a 

 hawk ; and when the Pike, as is often the case, lies 

 dormant at the surface of the water, they are 

 observed to swim around in vast numbers, and in 

 the greatest anxiety. 



The Pike spawns in March and April, according 

 to the warmth or coldness of the season, among 

 weeds near the water's edge; the young are sup- 

 posed to be of very quick growth ; the first year it 

 arrives at the length of from six to ten inches ; the 

 second, to twelve or fifteen ; and the third to eigh- 

 teen or twenty. An overgrown Pike is called a Luce, 

 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 September and 

 October, but is considered good from Midsummer 

 till Christmas. The longevity of this 6sh is very 



