THE PERCH. Ob 



freely in the morning, and especially about an hour or 

 t-wo before dark in the evening. In the middle of the 

 day. Perch seldom move after food, unless it is in docks 

 or tide rivers during the flow and ebb, when Perch, as 

 well as other Fish in such places^ will feed at all hours j 

 but in other waters, during warm weather, the Angler 

 will seldom see Perch move until the day begins to 

 decline 5 then the quiet Fisher for Roach is often dis- 

 turbed by Perch coming into his swim to feed, making 

 the white Fish fly in every direction, spoiling his 

 sport, &c. Now put in a baited hook for the intru- 

 der, and you may, perchance, take him. 



Perch delight to lie about bridges, and mill-pools, 

 in and near locks, about shipping, barges, and floats of 

 timbers in navigable rivers and canals, and at the en- 

 trance and in wet docks, also in deep and dark stili 

 holes, and in all bending and still parts of rivers, and 

 in the back water of mill-streams, as well as in deep 

 gentle eddies, in ponds about sluices and the mouth of 

 outlets and flood-gates, on the gravel or sandy parts 

 of the pond, and near the sides where rushes grow. 

 You need not wait long in a place ; for if there are any 

 Perch about, and they are inclined to feed, they will 

 soon take the bait ; and if you meet with several brace 

 of them in a still hole, and they are well on the feed, 

 with care, you may often take them all ; for, if not dis- 

 turbed or alarmed, by letting one fall off your hook, 

 they will, one after the other, take the bait almost im- 

 mediately it settles in the water. Give plenty of time 

 when you have a bite, that the Fish may gorge before 



