I72 THE COMMON PIKE. 



was discovered that the Pike had devoured all the 

 fish except a single large carp, that weighed be- 

 tween nine and ten pounds; and even this had 

 been bitten in several places. The Pike was again 

 put in, and an entire fresh stock of fish for him to 

 feed on ; all these he devoured in less than a year. 

 Several times he was observed by workmen, who 

 were standing near, to draw ducks and other water- 

 fowl under water. Crows were shot and thrown 

 in, which he took in the presence of the men. 

 From this time the slaughtermen had orders to 

 feed him with the garbage of the slaughter-house ; 

 but being afterwards neglected he died, as it is 

 supposed, from want of food. 



In December, 1765, a Pike was caught in the 

 river Ouse that weighed upwards of twenty-eight 

 pounds, and was sold for a guinea. When it was 

 opened, a watch, with a black ribband and two 

 seals were found in its body. These, it was after- 

 wards discovered, had belonged to a gentleman's 

 servant, who had been drowned in the river about 

 a month before*. 



Gesner relates that a famished Pike in the Rhone 

 seized on the lips of a mule, and was, in conse- 

 quence, dragged out of the water ; and that people, 

 while washing their legs, had often been bitten by 

 these voracious creatures. 



The smaller fish exhibit the same fear of this 

 tvrant as some of the feathered tribe do of the 



* Walton, note, p. 135, from a London paper of the second of Ja- 

 nuary, 1765. 



