44 SALMONIA. 



ing small fish there yesterday morning. 

 Some minnows, ho ! — and the perch rods ! 



Hal. — I am tired, sir, and would willingly 

 avoid minnow fishing after such a morning's 

 sport. 



Host. — Come, then, I will be a fisher for 

 the table. I have one — and another, that 

 will weigh nearly a pound a piece. Now, 

 there is a cunning perch that has stolen my 

 minnow; I know he is a large one. He has 

 robbed me again and again ; and if I fish on 

 in this way, with the hook through the up- 

 per lip, will, I dare say, carry away all the 

 minnows in the kettle. I shall put on a 

 strong small hook, on a stout, though fine, 

 gut, with slender wire round the top, and 

 pass the hook through the back fin of the 

 minnow, and try my sagacity against his. 

 Lo! I have him! — and a very strong fish he 

 is, and gone to the bottom ; but even though 

 the greatest perch in the river, he cannot 

 bite the gut, — he will soon be tired and 

 taken. He now comes up, and is landed, 

 He must be above 3 lbs. — a magnificent 

 perch ! Kill him and crimp him, fisherman ; 



