THE PIKE 93 



of the sun. It is said, but perhaps without much truth, 

 that when thus obeying the impulses of nature, such is 

 their lazy and absorbed condition that they may be 

 taken by the hand, much in the same way that trout 

 are occasionally tickled. 



The spawning season occupies from two to three 

 months ; the younger female fish, of about three or four 

 years old, taking the lead; and when they have all 

 been safely delivered, the dowagers or frog pikes (so 

 called from their period of spawning) succeed them. 

 During this period pike should never be molested or 

 disturbed; and, indeed, until this peculiar season is 

 entirely over, the fish is not worth catching. 



The pike, like some other fish, is supposed to be 

 affected in his hues by the complexion of the water in 

 which he lives. However this may be, it is unquestion- 

 ably true that pike taken out of canals, rivers, and rapid 

 streams are generally of a brighter colour and more 

 brilliant in their tints than those which frequent deep 

 pools and large weedy lakes. The latter are commonly 

 much darker, and their sides tinged with a deep yellow ; 

 and some of these taken out of the marais of France 

 are frequently quite tawny, and striped across the back 

 and sides like a Bengal tiger. The river and running- 

 water fish have, too, a finer flavour, and are in every 

 respect, both for the sportsman and the cook, far 

 superior to their brethren of the pond and the pool. 



Formerly, the pike was a scarce and expensive fish 

 in England. During the reign of Edward i., about the 

 close of the thirteenth century, jack was so dear that 

 few could afford to eat it ; the price, says Mr. Yarrell, 

 was double that of salmon, and ten times higher than 

 that of either turbot or cod. In 1466, pike was one of 

 the chief dishes in the high church festivals given by 

 George Neville, Archbishop of York. In Henry the 

 Eighth's time, these watery tyrants fetched as much 

 again as house lamb in February ; and a very small 

 pickerel would sell higher than a fat capon. Now, 

 however, the pike is to be found in most of the British 

 waters adapted to his nature and habits, and there is 



