50 ANGLING 



attempt to swallow one of its own species, weighing gibs. ! The 

 two fish, in the position in which they were found, have been 

 stuffed at Winchester. It is stated in the paper just referred to 

 that pike have died in this manner before, and that it is doubtful 

 whether or not these should be regarded as instances of voracity 

 or pure accidents. Pike, like other fish, frequently do battle, and 

 it has been suggested that when two savage fish rush headlong 

 at one another the smaller one might easily enter the jaws of the 

 other. Once in, there would be no getting out again, for the 

 pike's mouth is lined with hundreds of sharp teeth, which, like 

 those of the shark, point throatwards. 



The Fishing- Gazette, which probably but very few have an 

 opportunity of seeing, has under the picture of the fish the 

 following lines : 



(With apologies to William Shakespeare.) 

 BIG PIKE : " Oh, that this too, too solid fish would melt, 

 Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew . . adieu." 



[Expires.] 

 LITTLE PIKE : " O, bosom, black as death! 



O, limned soul, that, struggling to be free, 

 Art more engaged ! Help, angels! make 



assay ! " Hamlet. 



Mr. Hopper not only tenders his apologies to the immortal 

 bard, but also to the editor of The Fishing Gazette, for 

 reproducing the above incident and lines from its columns. 



Mr. Hopper does not pretend to be much of a pike fisher 

 himself, but several of his friends are adepts in that line ; and 

 although comparisons are odious, he thinks the best of them, 

 anyhow as a troller, is his friend Bobbingmoon. Now this wily 

 old angler will spin his bait in such a taking manner as to 

 make it irresistible in the eyes of Mr. Pike, even although the 

 latter has already partly breakfasted or dined. Mr. Hopper 

 remembers one famous fellow which Bobbingmoon landed. 

 The pike rushed out from his haunt with lightning speed at the 

 glittering lure, and missing it doubled back at once, almost 

 bending head to tail in doing so, and this time seized what 

 proved to be his last taste in this world, for Bobbingmoon drove 

 the triangle of hooks into his hungry jaws with such relentless 

 grip that escape was well nigh impossible. A pretty fish, and 

 a pretty kill this one that will live long in Mr. Hopper's 

 memory. 



