The Pike or Jack. 23 



" Two dorsal fins, distinct, separated ; the rays of the first spinous, 

 those of the second flexible; tongue smooth; teeth in both jaws, in 

 front of the vomer, and on the palatine bones ; preoperculum notched 

 below, serrated on the posterior edge ; operculum bony, ending in a 

 flattened point directed backwards ; branchiostegous rays seven ; 

 scales rough, hard, and not easily detached. 



" The formula of the fin rays may be thus stated 

 " D. 15, (1 + 14), V. (1 + 5), A. (2 + 8), C. 17. 



" That is, D. 1 spiuous -|- 14 that are soft, &c." 



YARRELL, Brit. Fink, vol. i. p. 1 4. 



VI. 



THE PIKE, PICKEKEL, JACK, LUCE, OK GEDD. 



PLATE xi. 1. 



J|S this fish affords good sport, and is taken 

 in some of the rivers which the Fly-fisher 

 visits, it may not be amiss to say a few words 

 on the methods of taking* him, as afford- 

 ing a variation in the Angler's sport. Lord Bacon and 

 Gesner assert that he is the longest-lived of all fishes. 

 He is the tyrant of the waters which he inhabits, and 

 will seize upon almost anything, even those of his own 

 kind, (a provision of nature which serves to check the 

 increase of so ravenous a family,) and is hence called the 

 fresh- water shark. The Pike spawns in February and 

 March. The best are found in rivers, those in ponds be- 

 ing not so good, and, as a rule, the larger the fish is, the 

 coarser the flesh, and vice versa. He is a solitaiy, melan- 

 choly, and bold fish, being commonly found alone, seldom 

 in company with other fishes. The best fish are from 

 seven to twelve pounds in weight, under that they are 

 watery and insipid. Pike may be taken by trolling, the 

 live baity ledger bait, and dipping. 



