THE PERCH. 47 



close together in the warmest and deepest parts of the 

 river, from which they do not move until Spring. 

 During the Winter, they will very seldom take a bait. 

 Gudgeons will live and breed in ponds that have clean, 

 gravelly bottoms, especially if a small stream runs 

 through them. 



CHAP. VIII. 



The Perch. 

 The bright-eyed Perch, with fins of Tyrian dye. 



The Perch, when upwards of a pound weight, is a 

 noble looking Fish, and its flesh is reckoned firm and 

 nutritious, being excelled by none of the fresh water 

 tribe. Perch are a bold Fish 3 and the small ones, es- 

 pecially, generally take a bait immediately it is oflFered ; 

 therefore, strong tackle may be used in angling for 

 them, and the easiest way of fitting it is as follows. 

 Put a cork float, on a gut, silk, or twisted hair line, and 

 a No. 7 hook ; and use a tolerable strong top to your 

 rod : bait with a well scowered worm, either marsh 

 brandling, or the red. Early in Spring, I prefer putting 

 two red worms on my hook, instead of one of the other 

 kind, especially when the water is very bright or shal- 

 low. Live Shrimps (or, if dead, and very fresh) are a 

 killing bait for Perch, particularly in wet docks, where 

 the tide flows strong in, which brings with it numerous 

 Shrimps, on which every Fish found in those places 



