HABITS OF THE PIKE. 339 



THE PIKE Esox Lucius. 



The pike, commonly called jack when under 

 three or four pounds in weight, is a well-known 

 fish ; like many of us, better known than trusted 

 or treated. He is a greedy, unsociable, tyran- 

 nising savage, and is hated like a Blue Beard. 

 Every body girds at him with spear, gaff, hook, 

 net, snare, and even with powder and shot. He 

 has not a friend in the world. The horrible gorge 

 hook is specially invented for the torment of his 

 maw. Notwithstanding, he fights his w r ay vigor- 

 ously, grows into immense strength, despite his 

 many enemies, and lives longer than his greatest 

 foe, man. His voracity is unbounded ; and, like 

 the most accomplished corporate officers, he is 

 nearly omnivorous, his palate giving the prefer- 

 ence, however, to fish, flesh, and fowl. Dyspep- 

 sia never interferes with his digestion; and he 

 possesses a quality that would have been valuable 

 at La Trappe, he can fast without inconveni- 

 ence for a se'nnight. He can gorge himself then to 

 beyond the gills without the slightest derangement 

 of the stomach. He is shark and ostrich combined. 



Z 2 



