56 THE ANGLERS GUIDE. 



you strike, for more Perch are lost by the Angler strik- 

 ing too soon, when he perceives a bite, than by break- 

 ing the tackle after they are fairly hooked ; it is, there- 

 fore, of the first consequence, that the Angler, when 

 fishing for Perch where he has reason to think he 

 shall meet with some heavy one, keep cool and col- 

 lected when he perceives a bite, giving the Perch two 

 or three moments' time to gorge the bait before he 

 strikes, because he has then an opportunity of fixing 

 the hook securely in the Perch's pouch or stomach, 

 from which place it will never draw ; but if you strike 

 too soon, that is while the baited hook is only in the 

 mouth, (and you should bear in mind what a spacious 

 mouth a large Perch has, and how likely it is you pull 

 away the baited hook without touching any part of the 

 said mouth,) and if you do fix the hook in the roof of 

 or the side of the mouth, recollect how tender and 

 brittle that part of the Perch is, and how frequently, by 

 his plunging and struggling, the hook tears away from 

 such a tender or insecure hold, and when this does not 

 occur, the hole which the hook has made soon becomes 

 enlarged. While you are playing a heavy Perch, and 

 if he then, unfortunately, gets round or among strong 

 weeds, the line will become slack about the mouth of 

 the Fish, and the hook comes or draws away from its 

 hold. 



Perch abound most in deep, dark, and sluggish rivers, 

 and in such rivers they are to be found in most parts 

 thereof 3 but in rivers, whose currents run strong and 

 fast, search for Perch particularly in the bends and still 



