THE PIKE 



(Eso.v Iiiciiis) 



The pike is distributed over Great Britain and Ireland. Many of the 

 lochs and rivers in Scotland contain hne pike, but they are seldom 

 fished for. In England and Ireland, however, they are much more 

 sought after. The smaller ones weighing from 2 to 3 lbs. are called 

 Jack. Pike spawn in March. They approach the shore and attach 

 the spawn to reeds and branches ot trees, where it remains until 

 hatched. 



By the end of August, if the feeding is good, they are half a 

 pound in weight, and after another year weigh about 2 lbs. After 

 this, if they can procure plenty ot food, they feed continuously and 

 grow rapidly. Their principal iood is living fish that Irequent loch 

 or stream ; nothing comes amiss to them, not even members of 

 their own species. WTere trout and the young of the salmon can 

 be got they prefer them to any others. They will, however, swallow 

 frogs, ducks, waterhens, rats, or any other living thing that appears on 

 the water. 



I have had occasion to net pike on the river Tay and its tributaries, 

 for the purpose of reducing their number, and on many occasions I 

 have found them stuffed full of smolts and parr. The destruction 

 thus caused must be very great, and when they are allowed to increase 

 in a stream or loch trout very soon disappear. In str^iams they 

 take up their abode in quiet corners, and remain perfectly still, 

 watching for a trout to come within reach. When it does so they 

 dart after it with great rapidity, and if the unfortunate trout gets 



217 2 F 



