The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1957, Síða 59

OUTDOORS
WITH BILL
... meet the pike
Of all the larger fresh water fish In the lakes and streams
of North America, the commonest, and probably the ugliest, is
none other than the long-nosed Pike. He turns up In the most
unlikely places—places where fish of any kind would hardly
be expected.
He is abused and cussed and called many uncomplimentary
names by anglers but he still deserves credit as a game fish
for the sport he provides. One of the kinder titles he rates Is
"Prairie Trout" and in many a lake or river he puts on most
of the party for the anglers. To thousands of youngsters he is
their first "catch" and provides them with visible proof of
their prowess with rod and line. In Northern waters Pike grow
to a tremendous size and the lure of these lunkers brings
sportsmen for hundreds of miles to test their skill against their
tackle-busting runs.
Spawning soon after the water starts to warm up In the
Spring Pike battle their way up small streams and ditches to
lay their eggs in the headwaters. Sometimes the fry hatch out
only to find themselves in a landlocked pond doomed to an
early death when the summer sun dries up their refuge and
leaves them stranded. But the same adventurous instinct also
results in the pike population spreading wherever there is
sufficient depth of water to prevent Winter killing and any
sort of reasonable food supply.
Possessed of a ravenous appetite, practically anything that
moves looks like food to a Pike. He is an out-and-out cannibal
and thinks nothing of devouring any of his smaller relatives
when he can catch them. In addition, he eats everything from
small marine animals up through frogs and young ducklings to
muskrats and even the occasional mink falls victim to his
hunger.
Some experts calculate there is a heavier depletion of the
duck population by Pike in the early summer than by all the
hunters In the fall. Certainly he Is a Predator but, then, so are
all game fish as meat Is always No. 1 item on their menu. In a
world of "Eat or be eaten" Old Longnose is particularly well
equipped to survive with his long laws full of needle-sharp
teeth and his slim body capable of tremendous spurts when
he wants to catch a meal or keep from being one.
Drewrys
THE CARLING
BREWERIES
(MANITOBA) LIMITED
*One of a series dedicated to the conservation of our wildlife heritage.
Reprints available on request.