118 
THE PIKE, &C. 
ring attached, stating that it had been placed there in the 
year 1280, making its age 249 years. It weighed 350 pounds. 
The identical ring is still preserved at Manhcim. On 
drawing a pool near Newport, (Eng.) one was taken weigh 
ing 170 pounds. They are said also to grow to a very large 
size, and to live to a very great age in Persia. 
“ 1801,” says Blaine, “ a hook, baited with a roach, 
was set in the manor pond at Toddington, Bedfordshire ; the 
next morning a large pike was caught, which with difficulty 
was got out. It appeared that a pike of three and a half 
pounds weight was first caught, which was afterwards swal- 
lowed by auother weighing thirteen pounds and a half, aud 
both were taken. 
"From the size of the fish which have occasionally been taken 
from within them, there appears to be hardly any limit to their 
voracity. One caught in the Iris was found to contain a bar- 
bel of six pounds, and a chub of more than three : these nine 
pounds ot food formed nearly a third of his own proper bulk, 
which was 31 1-2 pounds. The circumstance of two fish of 
such dimensions being within the animal at one time, is a 
proof that the calls of appetite in this tribe are of a peculiar 
kind; they are most imperative but not incessant. The de- 
sire to fill the stomach is such that no ofial is refused ; animal 
substances of every kiud, living and dead, are equally well 
received, and sometimes other matter ; for the clay plummet 
of the Angler, the clay and bran balls for ground-baiting, when 
he is in one of his gormandizing moods, are not refused, of 
which many instances have occurred ; and it is at such times 
that he dashes at large flies on the water, prompted to it pro- 
bably by his habits of receiving there mauy savory morsels, 
in the 6hape of rats, mice, and frogs, ns well as the young of 
ducks, geese, swans, and other aquatic birds, which ho is 
kuowu to prey on as readily as fish.” 
They are found in our streams, ponds, and lakes, from one 
