THE PERCH. 53 



three shot, nine inches above the hook, to sink it : — 

 fasten this g'ut or hair (to which the hook is tied,) to 

 a line trolling line that is fixed to a winch on a rod 

 with rings ; draw out as much line as you can manage 

 to cast in, holding the rod in one hand, and the slack 

 line between the winch, and the first ring on the rod 

 in the other, when you cast away your baited hook, 

 let the line slip gently away from the hand which held 

 it. By a little practice you will be enabled to cast 

 your bait with precision to any particular spot you 

 wish ; and if the wind is at your back, and the stream 

 or water not very broad, throw to the opposite side, 

 and let your bait drop from the bank gently into the 

 water, and sink, then gradually rise it to the surface, 

 and so act, raising and falling it, till you bring the 

 bait near the side on which you stand : if the river is 

 too broad, cast into the middle, and when you feel a 

 bite don't check it, but let the Fish run a yard or two 

 before you strike — this is called roving, because the 

 bait is cast far and near, and the Angler is continually 

 moving from one place to another. Dipping, or sink- 

 ing and draAving for Perch, is dropping the bait in 

 holes, eddies, behind and among weeds, between and 

 among roots of trees and branches ; also close to 

 banks, wharfings, piles, and about bridges and locks 

 in canals j let it sink nearly to the bottom, then draw 

 up gradually 5 let it sink again, and so on till a bite 

 is felt, when you must act as directed in roving : use 

 the same tackle, and bait the hook the same way ; this 

 mode of angling is also to be preferred when the 



