Silverpike
One of these days, I'll have to see these silverpike you're always talking about. — Egwene al'Vere, Amyrlin Seat (to Siuan Sanche) Silverpike is a fish often mentioned by Siuan Sanche in her fish-related sayings and puns.
One of these days, I'll have to see these silverpike you're always talking about.
— Egwene al'Vere, Amyrlin Seat (to Siuan Sanche)
Silverpike is a fish often mentioned by Siuan Sanche in her fish-related sayings and puns. They travel in schools. Because of the density of fish, being caught in such a school outside of a boat can be very troublesome. Siuan Sanche, and other Tairens, often mention silverpike as dangerous.
List of Mentions
There are a total of twenty-four distinct references to silverpike in the books. They are mentioned by Siuan Sanche, Juilin Sandar, Ailhuin Guenna and Androl Genhald:
Book 0 is New Spring and chapter 0 is a prologue
Origin
While a Silver pike is the name of a fish in real life (also known as the Northern pike), this is likely not the source Robert Jordan used. Instead, they are more likely to be based on Barracuda, possibly the Great barracuda in specific. The similarities are as follows:
- Reference made to silverpike teeth seem more analogous to the nasty teeth of the barracuda.
- They can be found in reeds/mangrove in tropical regions, especially the young.
- They are attracted by blood.
- They have a reputation of being dangerous to humans
- They are found in schools.
- Their size at maturity matches Siuan's "size of your leg" description
Several of these are not true for the fish named silver pike in real life.