The Complete Angler. \ 47 



yet the Hawk, a bird of prey (as the 

 Pike is of fifh) breeds but once in 

 twelvemonths: andyouareto note, 

 that his time of breeding or Spawn- 

 ing is ufually about the end of Fe- 

 bruary\ orfomewhatlater,in7kfon:/7, 

 as theweather proves colder or war- 

 mer: and to note, that his manner 

 of breeding is thus, a He and a She 

 Pike will ulually go together out of a 

 River into fome ditch or creek , and 

 that theretheSpawnercafts her eggs, 

 and the Melter hovers over her all 

 that time that (he is calling her 

 Spawn, but touches her not. I m ight 

 fay more of this, but it might be 

 thought curioiity or worfe, and 

 fhall therefore forbear it , and take 

 up fo much of your attention as to 

 tell you that the beft of Pikes are 

 noted to be in Rivers, then thofe in 

 great Ponds or Meres, and the worft 

 in final Ponds. 



And now I lhall proceed to 

 L 2 give 



