Page:British Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fresh-water Fishes.djvu/121

PIKE AND BURBOT trouble to secure without the use of a landing net or gaff. My father once caught a 9 pound Pike at Kingsbury Mill, St. Albans, when fishing for Roach with the finest tackle and the smallest size hook procurable. The bait used was the larva of the caddis fly. That certain species of fishes sometimes congregate in the same hole has been the experience of many anglers, and I can myself testify as to Bream, Chub, Eels, Perch, Pike, Roach, Rudd, and Tench all being caught with the same bait (worm) in one very deep hole in the Duke of Bedford's water at Oakley, B.ds. This was in 1904, A well marked Pike is dark greenish along the back, with mottled sides of yellowish, and darker bands. The small scales, pointed head, long body, large mouth, strong jaws, array of sharp teeth, and backward position of the dorsal and anal fins, are all worthy of note.

Burbot.—Lota lota (Fig. 57). Also known as the Eel-Pout, and the only representative of the Cod family (Gadidæ) inhabiting fresh water. It is of local distribution, only occurring in rivers having an outflow into the sea on the East Coast. It is a bottom-loving fish, and frequents the deeper parts of clear water. It 103