30 BRITISH SPORTING FISHES. 
measured 3 ft. ro} in. in length, 2 ft. in girth, and 
was the largest pike Buckland ever saw. After 
being spawned, probably only a small proportion 
of the eggs will ever be hatched, for they are 
fed upon by a host of aquatic creatures. Although 
the weed upon which pike spawn affords some 
shelter, it does not offer sufficient to guard it 
from many devouring enemies. Among these 
are pike themselves, and numerous fishes that 
share the same haunt. Wild fowl feed upon it, 
and the swan seeks it out as a paradise for her 
brown cygnets; and it is well known that an 
adult swan will destroy nearly a gallon of spawn 
inaday. Then there are the small fry of various. 
fishes that are constantly on the look-out for 
spawn, in addition to birds, beetles, and numerous. 
water insects, which destroy enormous quantities. 
Even when successfully hatched, the small pike 
have a hard time of it during their early career, 
and unless they can manage to steer clear of 
their parents and elder acquaintances, they will 
not long survive. If the water in which pike 
happen to be is limited, only a few of the largest 
fish survive; and in restocking, care should be 
taken that the newly-introduced fish should be 
somewhat equal in age and size. It has frequently 
come about that one patriarchal pike has been 
the only denizen of a pond, having long ago 
