WHICH INTRODUCES THE PIKE 5 



Our English pike, or jack, as it is generally called now- 

 adays, when in good condition is a handsome fish, and one 

 that is much sought after by anglers of every degree. 

 Bewildering in quantity and amazing in shape and colour 

 are the artificial baits, the spinning tackles, the snaps, the 

 floats, the traces, and everything connected with his capture. 



Scientifically he is known as Esox lucius, and I find 

 he is technically described in a dictionary as follows : 

 " So called from the shape of his head and jaws. Head 

 depressed, large, oblong, blunt ; jaws, palatine bones and 

 vomer furnished with teeth of various sizes ; body, elon- 

 gated, rounded on the back, sides compressed, covered 

 with scales ; dorsal fin placed far back over the anal fin ; 

 whole body mottled with white, yellow, and green." 



Izaak Walton says that the pike is " a solitary, melan- 

 choly, and bold fish " ; and most certainly this is not a 

 bad description, although at odd times they may be 

 found congregated in considerable numbers. Generally 

 speaking, however, they are not often discovered in shoals 

 like bream, roach, and barbel ; more often than not, es- 

 pecially during the winter months, they are solitary 

 tenants of a quiet reedy corner, away from the rush of 

 the main stream, sole kings of that small domain, ready 

 to pounce out at a moment's notice on any unwary roach 

 or dace that happens to stray within striking distance. 



One old writer, describing the haunts and habits of pike, 

 uses a few words that are so suggestive of the fish that 

 they are worth repeating. He says, " Shrouded from 

 observation in his solitary retreat, he follows with his eye 

 the shoals of fish that wander heedlessly along ; he marks 

 the water-rat swimming to his burrow, the ducklings 

 paddling among the water-weeds, the dabchick and the 

 moorhen swimming leisurely on the surface ; he selects 

 his victim, and like the tiger springing from the jungle 

 he rushes forth, seldom missing his aim, there is a sudden 

 swirl and splash, circle after circle forms on the surface 

 of the water, and all is still again in an instant." 



