Sir, - David Overy (April 17th) conveniently forgets to mention the bye-law which was introduced a number of years ago (at the behest of pike anglers), making it obligatory to return to the water all pike caught, with the exception of one fish. Nor does he take this into account in arriving at some of his conclusions. In view of the infestation of western lakes by pike, surely it is time for the Government to repeal this bye-law. It was originally introduced in the mistaken belief that pike were in danger of extinction. Now it is the trout that are in danger of extinction. The pendulum has swung the other way.
Mr Overy quotes a lot of statistics, but surely he is not trying to claim that a big pike will eat less trout than a small pike. A recent photograph in an Irish angling magazine showed a 42lb pike caught on Lough Mask which was subsequently returned to the water. How many trout does Mr Overy think this pike had to eat to attain this weight? And, more importantly, how many trout has it eaten since it was returned to the water? It is generally accepted that, in the matter of food, the trout comes first in preference on the menu of the pike. - Yours, etc., Pierce Duffy
Meadow Vale, Blackrock, Co Dublin.