PERCH. 45 



take our two trout, and the three perch, 

 to the kitchen, and let them be dressed as 

 usual. You shall have a good dish of fish, 

 worthy of such determined anglers. But I 

 see one of your party coming up by the 

 side of the river, who seems tired and out of 

 spirits. 



Hal. — It is Physicus, who has this day 

 commenced his career as a fly fisher; and 

 who, I dare say, has been as successful as 

 the uninitiated generally are. I hope you 

 have followed my advice and been suc- 

 cessful ? 



Phys. — I caught two trout in the rapid 

 where you left me ; but they were small, and 

 the fisherman threw them in. Below the 

 wear, in the quick stream, I caught two 

 dace, and what astonished me very much, 

 a perch, which you see here, and which I 

 thought never took the fly. 



Hal. — O yes, sometimes; and particularly 

 when it is below the surface : and what more ? 



Phys. — By creeping on my knees., and 

 dropping my fly over the bank, I hooked a 

 very large fish which I saw rising, and 



