the pike. 263 
thoufand ova being taken from a fingle filh caught in the 
Rhine , which did not weigh above nine pounds *. 
This fpecies of filh is common in the lakes, rivers, and 
ponds, over the whole of the north of Europe-. It is, 
however, mod numerous in Lapland, where pikes are 
faid to be taken fometimes eight feet in length ; and their 
exportation for fale forms a confiderable article of com- 
merce. The pike abounds in moil of the lakes and rivers 
of Britain, and in fuch numbers as renders the common 
account of this filh being introduced into England in the 
reign of Henry VIII. extremely improbable f. 
The American pike, or Efox ojjius of Linnaus, feems 
far more abundant in the lakes of Canada than ours, and 
forms there a moll valuable article of food. It grows 
commonly to the lize of four or five feet ; it is covered 
all over with bony rhomboidal fcales, which render it 
almoft invulnerable; but is, notwithftanding, taken by 
the Indians in fuch quantities, that it forms no inconfi- 
derable portion of their fuflenance. 
* Leonard. Baltnerus spud Will. 
f In the Lincolnihire fens, numbers are taken in femicircular 
baikets, open above and below. The manner is, by letting down the 
balkct from the end of a fen-boat, and as foon as the filh is found to have 
ectfred, it is immediately taken up into the boat. 
