56 THE SONG OF THE REEL. 



and under those sides of river and mere whereon rash and sedge 

 have been exuberant ; furthermore, he is to be found near the mouths 

 of tributaries, in backwaters, and in the neighbourhood of sluice-gates 

 and the piles of bridges. Franck, an old angling author, thus 

 describes the habits of the pike 



" He loves no streams, but hugs the silent deeps, 

 And eats all hours, and yet no house he keeps." 



Owing to the position of the eyes, the pike can better perceive 

 what passes above his head than below it. He possesses no adipose 

 fin, the dorsal fin being set far back over the anal fin. His tail, 

 which is forked, is remarkably powerful ; and this enables him to 

 dart with astonishing rapidity from his " lair " to seize upon his 

 unsuspecting prey. Yet, withal, he is a lazy fellow, and well does 

 he know that a sick or injured fish is more easily caught than one 

 endowed to the full with health and vigour. 



In the dim and distant past, so-called sportsmen obtained large 

 catches of pike by the aid of a living goose. To one leg of the 

 goose was tied a line with baited hook attached, and terrific was 

 the struggle that ensued when a heavy pike seized the lure. In the 

 course of time, this abominably cruel practice gave place to a less 

 brutal method known as " trimmering," a piece of wood or cork 

 being substituted for the live bird ; but on most waters nowadays 

 this mode is illegal, excepting those wherein the pike is regarded as 

 vermin. Of course, the " trimmer " is still put to nefarious use by 

 the poacher. 



From October to February the pike is in prime condition. 

 Bright, frosty weather conduces to good sport with this fish at 

 least, should the water be clear and ruffled by a strongish breeze ; 

 but cold, cloudy, windy days are equally propitious. Also pike 

 often feed well during wild, stormy weather. Good catches, too, 

 are frequently effected on mild blustering days ; whilst changeable 

 conditions, indicated, perhaps, by an unsteady barometer only, are 

 generally inimical to successful sport. Viewed statistically, Nov- 

 ember and January appear to be the two best months, notwith- 

 standing the fact that many splendid fish have been killed in 

 February. 



