THE PIKE 95 



prescribed, when dried, as a draught for poor persons 

 in consumption. These follies have now, however, 

 nearly passed away ; but still the age which patronises 

 the absurdities and extravagances of mesmerism, spirit 

 rapping, etc., is scarcely in a condition to brag very 

 loudly of its superiority in matters of this kind. 



We shall now describe the various methods of captur- 

 ing this ravenous and singular fish. 



There are various methods of catching pike. He may 

 be snared, trimmered, angled for with the float, huxed, 

 trolled, snapped, shot, and unfortunately, in the open 

 rivers of England, he is remorselessly and illegally 

 netted. 



The trick of snaring used to be — and we suppose is 

 now — done to perfection in the small streams which 

 drop into the Ouse in Huntingdonshire, and in the 

 large ditches and drains in the fens about Ely, Soham, 

 Whittlesea, etc. etc. A strong, short, stiff aspen bough 

 or rough rod, about ten or twelve feet in length, is 

 generally used for this purpose. From the thinner end 

 of it is suspended a thread of copper wire, about three 

 feet in length, with a running noose kept wide open. 

 This wire must be previously burned in hay, which 

 renders it ductile and pliable as a thin piece of lead, 

 and takes off all the glare and shiue. When the pike 

 is discovered basking in the water, the noose is cautiously 

 slipped over the head of the fish — an operation requiring 

 considerable dexterity, owing to the refraction of the 

 rays of light in the water ; and as soon as it clears the 

 gills, a sharp jerk fixes the snickle, and the fish is 

 dragged out of the water by main force, the wire often 

 cutting deep into his flesh when he is of some magnitude. 

 Hundreds of fish are taken in this manner, in the calm, 

 sunny days, when they are basking in still water, and 

 can be easily seen. 



The trimmer is a fatal weapon, more destructive than 

 any other, but considered by many as utterly unworthy 

 of a real sportsman. It requires no skill, no patience, 

 and very little attention ; well adapted for poaching, 

 and very convenient to gamekeepers. A double hook. 



