The Perch 251 



the fry and making such slaughter and commotion that anglers call 

 it " Waterloo." So numerous are they that when the angler casts 

 his flies among them he usually hooks two or three large trout 

 at the first cast, and so eager are they in pursuit of their prey that 

 many cause themselves to be foul-hooked. Xot only is the number 

 of perch reduced in this way, but vast numbers are destroyed by 

 storms. Shoals of them in shallow water are driven ashore during 

 a gale. Shortly after the great storm which blew down the Tay 

 Bridge I had occasion to be shooting on Loch Leven, and found the 



FIG. 241. 2-lb. Perch (Para fluviatilis). River Earn, February 1900. 



shore to the width of about 100 yards, and extending for several 

 miles, strewn with dead perch, undeniable evidence of the destruction 

 caused by wind and waves. For years after this they were not nearly 

 so plentiful as formerly. Perch are in best condition from September 

 to the end of December. 



The perch is not at all a shy fish, and it will take almost any bait. 

 A young friend of mine on one occasion when fishing for perch had 

 used all his worms. Tearing a strip of red wool from one of his 

 garments, he fastened a small piece of it to his hook and continued 

 to bring the perch ashore almost as frequently as he had done with 



