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THE FISHES OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND. 
LOACH. Nemachilus barbatuhis (Linnaeus). 
“ Bearded Loach,” “ Stone-Loach,” “ Tommy-Loach ” (‘ Leicestershire 
Proverbs ’). 
Gienerally distributed, and Harley recorded it from the rivers Anker, Sence, 
Smite, Soar, Trent, and Wreake. 
SPINED LOACH. Gobitis taenia, Linnaeus. 
“ Groundling.” 
Occurs sparingly in some few streams. — Harley wrote : — “ Inhabits the 
Soar, Trent, and Wreake.” I took a specimen in a small stream at Aylestone 
on 14th April, 1883. 
Family ESOCID^. 
PIKE. Esox Indus, Linnaeus. 
“ Jack.” 
Commonly distributed, attaining a large size in pools such as those of 
Bosworth and Saddington. — In 1811 Harley saw a brace of Pike, taken in a 
pond at Dishley, the property of Mr. March Phillipps, each of which weighed 
over 25 lbs. Keen tells me that, sometime about 1845-50, one of 33 lbs. (which 
he saw) was netted at Barrow Mill-dam after having broken through three 
trammel-nets. I saw a mounted specimen at Bosworth House, which was 
captured in April, 1869, in Bosworth Pool, and weighed 26 lbs. The Museum 
Donation-book records, under date 20th Aug., 1872, the capture of one at 
Barrow-on-Soar, which weighed 17| lbs., and measured 3 feet 6 inches in 
length. It was presented to the Museum by Mr. Noble, of Barrow. 
Col. Palmer wrote, in 1888: — “Some very large Pike have been taken out 
of the water at Withcote at different periods ; one, a diseased fish, some fifteen 
years since, was 42 inches from snout to tail-fin, but only weighed about 
13 lbs. It seemed to have a fungus growth, and we had to bury it at once. 
Another evidently very large fish was taken, about three years since, in my 
absence from home, in fact without permission, and sent away. From the 
account it was supposed to weigh 24 or 25 lbs. It was said to have rushed 
at the man who was fishing for small fry, and took rod and line out of his 
hand, and was choked in the weeds. It was no doubt the same fish that I 
saw one day snap at a Swallow which skimmed the water, or perhaps 
touched him.” 
In Rutland. — Commonly distributed. — Lord Gainsborough informs me that 
Pike of 15 and 18 lbs. are frequently caught in the ponds at Exton; the largest 
yet taken — which I have seen— is one of 23^ lbs., and is in the Museum at 
