Sentence:  And now they begin to catch the <WSD>pikes</WSD>, and will ſhortly the trouts (pox on theſe miniſters), and I would fain know whether the floods were ever ſo high as to get over the holly bank or the river walk; if ſo, then all my <WSD>pikes</WSD> are gone; but I hope not. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Any carnivorous freshwater fish of the genus "Esox", "especially" the northern pike, "Esox lucius".