PIKE, PICKEREL, LUCE or JAcK—Esox Lucius. The name of this fish is said by Skinner and Junius, on ac count of the sharpness of his snout, to be derived from the French pique. We apprehend this etymology is more whimsical than just. From his voracity and cruelty he has been often called the fresh water shark, the ty rant of the floods, and the ruthless pike. If we can believe report, they were brought into England, no ear lier than in the reign of Henry the Eighth ; but we very much doubt the truth of this, as it solely depends upon the following old erroneous distich: That they were scarce and dear at that time, (about the year 1530), is certainly true, for in February, a sin gle pike brought double the price of a house lamb. They spawn in i\Iarch, in shallow water ; they are great breeders, for in one roe, there were counted 140,000 eggs. We have them in our lakes and ponds, and some few in our slow running rivers; they are eager biters, and yield to the angler very considerable amusement. Some writers upon this sport have averred, and among those Dr Brookes, that they will not rise to an artificial fly ; but the contrary we know to be a fact, as, in the early part of the spring, nothing more effectually tempts him to bite, if in a gale of wind, than a large gaudy fly. The body of which should be composed of (what the fly dressers name) pig's wool, which may be had of various dyes, and twisted about with gold or silver thread ; the eyes of two black, green, or blue glass beads, the wings narrowlydivided; of the tail feathers of the peacock : these must be busked upon a double hook, fastened to a link of wire, or rather gimp, for neither silk nor hair could withstand the strength and sharpness of his teeth.
This fly should be about the size of the golden-crested wren, which is the most diminutive of our British birds. We are aware that it may be observed, that this should be called artificial bird, rather than fly angling, but we comply with the common appellation. Indeed, we have no doubt, than an imitation of some birds might be very successful in this kind of fishing ; the pike has been .seen attempting to seize the swallow, when skimming along the surface of the water, find he greedily devours the flappers, or wild ducklings, whenever he finds them swimming within his reach. Various are the lures which arc successfuly tendered to this lish ; small trouts, roaches, pars, minnows, toadies, frogs, mice, bats, Ecc.; small dace and gudgeons, which we have not in this country, are also favourite morsels for him. The rod for pike angling should be stiff and long, and the fly, or bait, should be pulled through the water much quicker than is done for either salmon or trout. When you bring him to land, be cautious how you take hold of him, as he bites most severely ; the safest manner is to fix your thumb and fore or middle finger in his eyes. We shall spare the relation of the many wonderful and fabu lous tales, that have been told of his immense gorge or swallow, of his size, and of his longevity.