50 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 



CHAPTER V. 



THE PIKE. 



JL HE Pike is a very long lived fish, and is 

 supposed to attain a greater age than most 

 others, which may be deemed a misfortune, 

 he being so extremely voracious ; and is 

 properly called, Tyrant of the fresh waters. 



The largest Pike are the coarsest food, the 

 smaller being ever the best; contrary, to the 

 nature of Eels, which increase in goodness 

 in proportion to their bulk and size. 



He is a solitary fish, never swimming in 

 shoals, but resting himself alone : if we may 

 credit report, a Pike has been known to 

 fight an Otter for a Carp he had taken and 



