3-j BRITISH SPORTING FISHES. 



of waterfowl have been taken, and they commonly 

 capture water-voles and rats. 



One of the legends attaching to the pike is 

 that it lives to a very great age, but this is 

 only a legend. Certain large fish are known to 

 have lived from eight to twelve years, and the 

 facts in this connection are well authenticated. 

 There is a story of a pike having existed for two 

 hundred and sixty-seven years. This was the 

 famous Mannheim pike captured in 1497, and 

 which attained to the enormous length of nine- 

 teen feet. It had in its gills a brass ring, upon 

 which was engraved in Greek, *' I am the first 

 fish which was placed in this pond by the hand 

 of Frederick II., Governor of the World, on the 

 5th of October, 1 230 " surely the most marvellous 

 pike on record. Its skeleton is still preserved, 

 and is nearly nineteen feet in length, only it 

 happens to be a compound of two individuals, 

 and an examination has shown that several 

 vertebrae have been added. The ring of gilded 

 brass could " enlarge itself by springs " a highly 

 necessary qualification, all things considered. 



There is one thing in the life-history of the 

 pike which has never been clearly proved. This 

 is as to its power of making overland journeys 

 of changing its haunt, either for food or water. It 

 is said that lately an English gentleman, residing 



