238 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 
Perch are swept. Such spots abound on the Thames 
and most large rivers. In the Thames, the best Perch 
water I know is just below the paper-mills at Temple, 
near Marlow. Here, after the first heavy flood, the 
Perch collect in astonishing numbers ; and I remember 
on one occasion, when fishing this pool with the late 
Tom Rosewell and Mr. H. R. Francis, killing some 
twelve dozen Perch with the paternoster in a few hours. 
The water was then still slightly clouded from floods, 
The Weirs are the great places for the paternoster in 
summer, as the Perch then collect in the rapids and 
rushes of water to scour and brace themselves after 
spawning. The modus operandi is as follows:—The rod 
and tackle being arranged as described, and the lead 
hanging 6 or 7 feet from the top of the rod, the baits, if 
the water to be fished is within the length of the rod, 
should be gexztly dropped or lowered down till the lead 
rests on the bottom; if, however, the desired spot is 
further off, the baits, after a slight pendulum-like move- 
ment, are lightly cast—or rather “swung’—into it, and 
the line drawn in until it is stretched straight between 
the lead and the rod-top. Every half minute or so the 
position of the bait should be shifted a foot or two by 
lifting the lead and drawing in line; a sharp twitch will 
indicate a bite, when the point of the rod should be 
instantly lowered a little so as to slacken the line some- 
what, and prevent. the fish prematurely pricking himself. 
The attack being repeated, and—as it usually happens— 
