THE PIKE, &C. 
121 
tho summer they are listless, and affect the surface of the 
water, where in warm sunny weather they seem to bask in a 
sleepy state for hours together, and at these times frequently 
get ensnared by the wire halter of the poacher. It is not a 
little remarkable, also, that smaller fish appear to be aware 
when this abstinent state of their foe is on him ; for they who 
at other times are evidently impressed with an instinctive 
dread at his presence, are now seen swimming around him 
with total unconcern. At these periods, no baits, however 
tempting, can allure him ; but on the contrary, he retreats 
from every thing of the kind. Windy weather is alone capa- 
ble of exciting the dormant powers ; and then, if a cool sharp 
breeze spring up, he may sometimes be tempted to run ; 
but even then he will rather play with the bait, and may bo 
seen even sailing about with it across his mouth ; after doing 
which he commonly ejects it. This inaptitude to receive 
food with the usual keenness, continues from the time they 
spawn, until the time of their recovery from tho effects of it; 
and thus pike and jack fishing are not productive of much 
sport between March and October, unless an occasional 
breeze should blow a hungry fit on them ; and it is thus also 
that when they are attempted between these periods, the 
experienced fisher often at once commences his practice by 
snap-tackle. 
“We are disposed to think that the decreased voracity of 
these fish during the heats of summer, is in some measure 
likewise influenced by the increase of temperature. This 
animal thrives best in frigid climes, and the further wo pro- 
ceed within certain limits, the larger is his growth ; thus, in 
tile Canadian lakes he exists in vast numbers, and grows to 
the length of four or five feet ; and he does the same in tho 
cold waters of Lapland, also disappearing, according to Wal- 
henburg, in geographical distribution with the spruce fir. 
It is no wonder, therefore, that only a slight approximation 
