PIKE. Esox lutfnix. 



gold-fish, being scared by the burnished glitter of their scales. This idea, however, is 

 incorrect, as the Pike has been seen to devour gold-fish in spite of their brilliant armour. 

 So universal is the appetite of this fish, that it has even been known to seize the paste 

 bait which had been used for other and less voracious inhabitants of the waters. 



When the Pike attains a tolerable size, it takes possession of some particular spot in 

 the bank, usually a kind of hole or cave which is sheltered by overhanging soil or roots, 

 and affords a lair where it can lurk in readiness to pounce upon its passing prey. It is 

 rather remarkable that these fish seem to be well acquainted with the most " eligible 

 residences," and that if a large Pike is taken from a hole, another is sure to take 

 possession in a very short space of time. 



The Pike seems to have no limit to its size, for it is a very long-lived fish, and seems 

 always to increase in dimensions provided it be well supplied with food. A fish of ten 

 or twelve pounds' weight is considered to be a fine specimen, though there have been 

 examples where the Pike has attained more than five times the latter weight. These huge 

 fishes of sixty or seventy pounds are, however, of little value for the table. 



The colour of the Pike is olive-brown on the back, taking a lighter hue on the sides, 

 and being variegated with green and yellow. The abdomen is silvery white. 



The SALMON is undoubtedly the king of British river-fish ; not so much for its dimen- 

 sions, which are exceeded by one or two giant members of the finny tribe, but for the 

 silvery sheen of its glittering scales, its wonderful dash and activity, affording magnificent 

 sport to the angler, the interesting nature of its life from the egg to full maturity, and last, 

 but not least, for the exquisite flavour and nutritive character of its flesh. 



In former days, before civilization had substituted man and his dwellings for the broad 

 meadows and their furred and feathered inmates, the Salmon was found in many an 

 English river. Now, however, there are but few streams where this splendid fish can be 

 seen, for, in the greater number of British rivers, the water has been so defiled by human 

 agency that the fastidious Salmon will not suffer itself to be poisoned by such hateful 

 mixture of evil odours and polluted waters ; and in the few streams where the water is 

 still sufficiently pure for the Salmon to venture into them, the array of nets, weirs, and all 



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