THE SALMON. 



3*3 



the Pike would not eat the 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 armor. 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. 



PIKE.-Bsox lucius. 



The color 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 

 dimensions, 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 flavor 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 odors 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 



