Baked Pike - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 -4 lbs whole pike, cleaned (leave on head and tail)
8 slices dry bread
2 tablespoons bacon fat
1 cup tomatoes, cooked (canned is fine)
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
salt
paprika
1/4 cup flour
6 bay leaves
lemon, for garnish
parsley, for garnish

Preparation

Rub fish with salt and chill for 3 hours.
Soak bread in cold water until soft, press out water and add bacon fat, tomatoes and seasonings.
Wash pike; stuff and fasten opening securely with toothpicks or lace with cooking string and dredge with flour.
Preheat oven to 375F and grease a baking pan.
Place fish in prepared baking pan with 3 bay leaves beneath and 3 on top.
Bake, allowing about 10 minutes per pound for fish under 4 pounds.
At the end of 15 minutes baking, sprinkle lightly with salt and paprika.
Garnish with lemon wedges and parsley.