194 THE ANGLER-NATUEALIST. 



There has always been a moot point connected with the 

 weight of this fish, viz. at what size it ceases to be a 

 "Jack" and becomes a "Pike." Walton says, at 2 feet; 

 Sir J. Hawkins, at 3 lbs. ; Mr. Wood, at 3 lbs.; Salter, 

 at 3 lbs. ; Hofland, at 3 lbs., or when it exceeds 24 inches 

 in length ; " Piscator " (Practical Angler) says 4 lbs. ; 

 " Glenfin," 3 lbs. ; Mr. Blaine, 4 or 5 lbs. ; Carpenter, 

 3 lbs.; "Ephemera," 4 lbs. in his Notes to Walton, and 

 3 or 4 lbs. in his ' Handbook of Angling ' ; whilst Captain 

 Williamson recognizes no distinction, but calls them in- 

 discriminately Pike and Jack. Under these circumstances, 

 and considering that the distinction — unlike that between 

 the Salmon and Grilse — is purely arbitrary, it would 

 appear to be desirable that for the future an ' act of uni- 

 formity' be passed; and as the majority of writers seem 

 to favour the 3 lbs. qualification, that standard might 

 perhaps be adopted by general consent as the point at 

 which the young Pickerels ' cast off the Jack ' and assume 

 the full dignities of Pike-hood. 



The rate of growth of the Pike has been by different 

 authors variously estimated at from 1 to 5 lbs. a year; 

 but these estimates do not, generally, appear to be based 

 on any very reliable grounds, stiU less upon actual ex- 

 periment, and therefore go but a little way towards ad- 

 vancing our knowledge of the subject. My own expe- 

 rience leads me to believe that the growth-rate is sus- 

 ceptible of very great variation, depending upon the nature 

 of the water, and the amount of food supplied to the fish. 



