188 THE COMPLETE ANGLEE. [PART I. 



pikes are bred after this manner, or are brought into some 

 ponds some such other ways as is past man's finding out ; of 

 which we have daily testimonies. 



Sir Francis Bacon, in his "History of Life and Death," 

 observes the pike to be the longest lived of any fresh-water 

 fish : and yet he computes it to be not, usually, above forty 

 years ; and others think it to be not above ten years ; and 

 yet Gesner mentions a pike taken, in Swedeland, in the year 

 1449, with a ring about his neck, declaring he was put 

 into that pond by Frederick the Second, more than two 

 hundred years before he was last taken, as by the inscription 

 in that riog, being Greek, was interpreted by the then Bishop 

 of Worms. 1 But of this no more, but that it is observed, 

 that the old or very great pikes have in them more of state 

 than goodness, the smaller or middle-sized pikes being by 

 the most, and choicest palates, observed to be the best meat ; 

 and, contrary, the eel is observed to be the better for age 

 and bigness." 



and leaves Gesner to defend it ; so huff'd away : which rendered him rather 

 a formal opinionist, than a reformed and practical artist, because to celebrate 

 such antiquated records, whereby to maintain such an improbable assertion." 

 H. The doctrine of spontaneous generation, once supported by naturalists 

 of great name, is as we have elsewhere said, exploded. The reader need 

 hardly be told that pike breed like other river fish. They spawn (we quote 

 from Elaine) in March or April, according to the temperature of the water, 

 and retiringfor the purpose iu pairs, quit therivers for the creeks and ditches. 

 They seek the stillest part of the water, and frequently occupy a mud-bed, 

 or remain towards the edges or shallows, depositing their spawn among 

 aquatic plants, of which reeds and rushes are favourites. The male may 

 be seen during this time accompanying the female with much attention, 

 and when the fecundating milt has been deposited over the ova, the pair 

 then retire into deep water, and seem to feel no further solicitude for the 

 result of the process. ED. 



1 Walton appears to have quoted from memory, from "HakewilPs 

 Apology," where Gesner is cited as the authority. It is there stated that 

 the fish was put into the pond in 1230. The like account differs, however, 

 three years in the date, from that given in a well-known book, entitled the 

 "Gentleman's Recreation," which is: "In the year 1497, a fish was 

 caught in a pond near Heilbron, in Suabia, with a brass ring, at his gills, 

 in which were engraved these words ; / am the first fish iL'hich Frederick 

 the Second, governor of the world, put into this pond the 5th of October, 

 1233." By which it appears, that this fish had then lived two hundred and 

 sixty-odd years." H. 



2 This is a mistake. Large and old eels are not such good eating as those 

 of a smaller size. Ei>. 



