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pickerel…weed； unless learned Gesner be much mistaken； for he says； this
weed and other glutinous matter； with the help of the sun's heat； in some
particular months； and some ponds； apted for it by nature； do become
Pikes。 But； doubtless； divers Pikes are bred after this manner； or are
brought into some ponds some such Other ways as is past man's finding
out； of which we have daily testimonies。
Sir Francis Bacon； in his History of Life and Death； observes the Pike
to be the longest lived of any fresh…water fish； and yet he computes it to be
not usually above forty years； and others think it to be not above ten years：
and yet Gesner mentions a Pike taken in Swedeland； in the year 1449； with
a ring about his neck； declaring he was put into that pond by Frederick the
Second； more than two hundred years before he was last taken； as by the
inscription in that ring； being Greek； was interpreted by the then Bishop of
Worms。 But of this no more； but that it is observed； that the old or very
great Pikes have in them more of state than goodness； the smaller or
middle…sized Pikes being； by the most and choicest palates； observed to be
the best meat： and； contrary； the Eel is observed to be the better for age
and bigness。
All Pikes that live long prove chargeable to their keepers； because their
life is maintained by the death of so many other fish； even those of their
own kind； which has made him by some writers to be called the tyrant of
the rivers； or the fresh…water wolf； by reason of his bold； greedy；
devouring； disposition； which is so keen； as Gesner relates； A man going
to a pond； where it seems a Pike had devoured all the fish； to water his
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mule； had a Pike bit his mule by the lips； to which the Pike hung so fast；
that the mule drew him out of the water； and by that accident； the owner of
the mule angled out the Pike。 And the same Gesner observes； that a maid
in Poland had a Pike bit her by the foot； as she was washing clothes in a
pond。 And I have heard the like of a woman in Killingworth pond； not far
from Coventry。 But I have been assured by my friend Mr。 Segrave； of
whom I spake to you formerly； that keeps tame Otters； that he hath known
a Pike； in extreme hunger； fight with one of his Otters for a Carp that the
Otter had caught； and was then bringing out of the water。 I have told you
who relate these things； and tell you they are persons of credit； and shall
conclude this observation； by telling you； what a wise man has observed； 〃
It is a hard thing to persuade the belly； because it has no ears 〃。
But if these relations be disbelieved； it is too evident to be doubted；
that a Pike will devour a fish of his own kind that shall be bigger than his
belly or throat will receive； and swallow a part of him； and let the other
part remain in his mouth till the swallowed part be digested； and then
swallow that other part that was in his mouth； and so put it over by degrees；
which is not unlike the Ox； and some other beasts taking their meat； not
out of their mouth immediately into their belly； but first into some place
betwixt； and then chew it； or digest it by degrees after； which is called
chewing the cud。 And； doubtless； Pikes will bite when they are not hungry；
but； as some think； even for very anger； when a tempting bait comes near
to them。
And it is observed； that the Pike will eat venomous things； as some
kind of frogs are； and yet live without being harmed by them； for； as some
say； he has in him a natural balsam； or antidote against all poison。 And he
has a strange heat； that though it appear to us to be cold； can yet digest or
put over any fish…flesh； by degrees； without being sick。 And others observe；
that he never eats the venomous frog till he have first killed her； and then
as ducks are observed to do to frogs in spawning… time； at which time
some frogs are observed to be venomous； so thoroughly washed her； by
tumbling her up and down in the water； that he may devour her without
danger。 And Gesner affirms； that a Polonian gentleman did faithfully
assure him； he had seen two young geese at one time in the belly of a Pike。
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And doubtless a Pike in his height of hunger will bite at and devour a dog
that swims in a pond； and there have been examples of it； or the like； for
as I told you； 〃 The belly has no ears when hunger comes upon it 〃
The Pike is also observed to be a solitary； melancholy； and a bold fish；
melancholy； because he always swims or rests himself alone； and never
swims in shoals or with company； as Roach and Dace； and most other fish
do： and bold； because he fears not a shadow； or to see or be seen of
anybody； as the Trout and Chub； and all other fish do。
And it is observed by Gesner； that the jaw…bones； and hearts； and galls
of Pikes； are very medicinable for several diseases； or to stop blood； to
abate fevers； to cure agues； to oppose or expel the infection of the plague；
and to be many ways medicinable and useful for the good of mankind： but
he observes； that the biting of a Pike is venomous； and hard to be cured。
And it is observed； that the Pike is a fish that breeds but once a year；
and that other fish； as namely Loaches； do breed oftener： as we are certain
tame Pigeons do almost every month； and yet the Hawk； a bird of prey； as
the Pike is a fish； breeds but once in twelve months。 And you are to note；
that his time of breeding； or spawning； is usually about the end of
February； or； somewhat later； in March； as the weather proves colder or
warmer： and to note； that his manner of breeding is thus： a he and a she
Pike will usually go together out of a river into some ditch or creek； and
that there the spawner casts her eggs； and the melter hovers over her all
that time that she is casting her spawn； but touches her not。
I might say more of this； but it might be thought curiosity or worse；
and shall therefore forbear it； and take up so much of your attention as to
tell you that the best of Pikes are noted to be in rivers； next； those in great
ponds or meres； and the worst； in small ponds。
But before I proceed further； I am to tell you； that there is a great
antipathy betwixt the Pike and some frogs： and this may appear to the
reader of D