THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 55 



hundreds of the small fry (if the water be 

 over the banks by a flood, or stopt by flood- 

 gates) among short weeds and grass, feeding 

 on very small yellow frogs, and worms ; at 

 which time they are from two to two and a 

 half inches long: next year about the same 

 time, they will grow from eight to ten and 

 fifteen inches in length, if the river be clear 

 in which they are spawned. 



When the Pike arrives to twenty-eight or 

 thirty inches in length he is generally at a 

 stand, and then thrives most in thickness : 

 it is a very uncommon thing to meet with 

 them full four feet long, though I have seen 

 one that measured four feet two inches. 

 The best fish are those that are bred in 

 rivers; the females are preferable to the 

 males; the worst are taken in meers or 

 ponds. They are in season from the begin- 

 ning of May till spawning time ; the flesh 

 is firm, dry, and sweet ; from seven to twelve 

 pounds are the best fish, and under three 

 they are watery and insipid. 



