182 THE AlfGLEE-NATUEALIST. 



author of ' Britlsli Fishes/ and most other writers^ was pro- 

 bably an introduced species into English waters. From 

 this view, however, with due deference to the authority of 

 so eminent an ichthyologist, I must dissent, on the follow- 

 ing grounds. Yarrell bases his opinion upon the great 

 rarity of Pike in former times in England, which he proves 

 thus : — 



"That Pike were rare formerly may be inferred from 

 the fact that, in the latter part of the thirteenth century, 

 Edward I., who condescended to regulate the prices of the 

 different sorts of fish then brought to market, . . . fixed the 

 value of Pike higher than that of fresh Salmon, and more 

 than ten times greater than that of the best Turbot or Cod. 

 In proof of the estimation in which Pike were held in the 

 reign of Edward III., I may refer to the lines of Chaucer — 



' Full many a fair partrioh hadde he in niewe, 

 And many a breme, and many a Luce in stewe.' 



" Pike are mentioned in an Act of the 6th year of the 

 reign of Richard II. (1383), which relates to the forestalling 

 of fish. Pike were dressed in the year 1461 at the great 

 feast given by Geo. Nevil, Archbishop of York. . . . Pike 

 were so rare in the reign of Henry VIII., that a large one 

 sold for double the price of a house-lamb in February ; and 

 a Pickerel, or small Pike, for more than a fat capon." 



But to what does this amount ? Simply that at some 

 periods of our history Pike were scarcer, or more esteemed, 

 and as a consequence more valuable, than at others. Nor 

 is this apparent scarcity, as I think I shall be able to show. 



