118 



THE PIKE, &C, 



ring attached, stating that it had been placed there in the 

 year 1280, making its age 249 years. It weighed 350 pounds. 

 The identical ring is still preserved at Manheim. On 

 drawing a pool near Newport, (Eng.) one was taken weigh 

 ing 170 pounds. They are said also to grow to a very large 

 size, and to live to a very great age in Persia. 



" In 1801," says Elaine, " a hook, baited with a roach, 

 was set in the manor pond at Toddington, Bedfordshire ; the 

 next morning a large pike was caught, which with difficulty 

 was got out. It appeared that a pike of three and a half 

 pounds weight was first caught, which was afterwards swal- 

 lowed by another weighing thirteen pounds and a half, and 

 both were taken. 



"From the size of the fish which have occasionally been taken 

 from within them, there appears to be hardly any limit to their 

 voracity. One caught in the Iris was found to contain a bar- 

 bel of six pounds, and a chub of more than three : these nine 

 pounds of food formed nearly a third of his own proper bulk, 

 which was 31 1-2 pounds. The circumstance of two fish of 

 such dimensions being within the animal at one time, is a 

 proof that the calls of appetite in this tribe are of a peculiar 

 kind ; they are most imperative but not incessant. The de- 

 sire to fill the stomach is such that no offal is refused ; animal 

 substances of every kind, living and dead, are equally well 

 received, and sometimes other matter ; for the clay plummet 

 of the Angler, the clay and bran balls for ground-baiting, when 

 he is in one of his gormandizing moods, are not refused, of 

 which many instances have occurred ; and it is at such times 

 that he dashes at large flies on the water, prompted to it pro- 

 bably by his habits of receiving there many savory morsels, 

 in the shape of rats, mice, and frogs, as well as the young of 

 ducks, geese, swans, and other aquatic birds, which he is 

 known to prey on as readily as fish." 



They are found in our streams, ponds, and lakes, from one 



^ir" 



