186 DIRECTIONS HOW TO FISH 



perch, drawn with a pencil on the door of a house 

 near that city, which was twenty-nine inches 

 long ; and was informed it was the true dimen- 

 sions of a living perch. 



The largest perch are taken with a minnow, 

 hooked with a good hold through the back fin, 

 or rather through the upper lip ; for the perch, 

 by reason of the figure of his mouth, cannot take 

 the bait crosswise, as the pike will. When you 

 fish thus, use a large cork float, and lead your 

 line about nine inches from the bottom, other- 

 wise the minnow will come to the top of the 

 water; but in the ordinary way of fishing, let 

 your bait hang within about six inches from the 

 ground.] And now I think best to rest myself, 

 for I have almost spent my spirits with talking 

 so long. 



Venator. Nay, good master, one fi.sh more ! 

 for you see it rains still ; and you know our 

 angles are like money put to usury — they may 

 thrive, though we sit still, and do nothing but 

 talk and enjoy one another. Come, come, the 

 other fish, good master ! 



Piscator. But, scholar, have you nothing to 

 mix with this discourse, which now grows most 

 tedious and tiresome? Shall I have nothino^ 



