30 BRITISH SPORTING FISHES. 



measured 3 ft. loj in. in length, 2 ft. in girth, and 

 was the largest pike Buckland ever saw. After 

 being spawned, probably only a small proportion 

 of the eggs will ever be hatched, for they are 

 fed upon by a host of aquatic creatures. Although 

 the weed upon which pike spawn affords some 

 shelter, it does not offer sufficient to guard it 

 from many devouring enemies. Among these 

 are pike themselves, and numerous fishes that 

 share the same haunt. Wild fowl feed upon it, 

 and the swan seeks it out as a paradise for her 

 brown cygnets ; and it is well known that an 

 adult swan will destroy nearly a gallon of spawn 

 in a day. Then there are the small fry of various 

 fishes that are constantly on the look-out for 

 spawn, in addition to birds, beetles, and numerous 

 water insects, which destroy enormous quantities. 

 Even when successfully hatched, the small pike 

 have a hard time of it during their early career, 

 and unless they can manage to steer clear of 

 their parents and elder acquaintances, they will 

 not long survive. If the water in which pike 

 happen to be is limited, only a few of the largest 

 fish survive ; and in restocking, care should be 

 taken that the newly-introduced fish should be 

 somewhat equal in age and size. It has frequently 

 come about that one patriarchal pike has been 

 the only denizen of a pond, having long ago- 



