PERCH. 45 



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 fortunate ? 



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 particu- 

 larly 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 which 

 was like a salmon ; but he was too strong for 

 mv tackle, ran out all mv line, and at last 

 broke off by entangling my link in a post in 

 the river. I have been very unlucky ! I am 

 sure that fish was larger than the great one 

 Ornither took with the natural fly. 



Hal. — Come, you have been initiated, and 

 I see begin to take an interest in the sport. 



