226 BRITISH FRESHWATER FISHES 



string, when it is fertilized by the attendant males. 

 The bands of eggs, attached at one end, float in 

 the water, enveloped in a coat of mucus ; in a few 

 days the fry appear, and after resting at the bottom 

 for about a month, during which the small yolk- 

 sac is absorbed, they swim about at the surface 

 and feed on minute organisms ; after a year's 

 growth they are 3 or 4 inches long, whilst two- 

 year-old Perch usually measure 5 or 6 and those 

 of three years 7 or 8 inches ; the last are sexually 

 mature. 



As a rule a shoal of Perch is composed of fish 

 of nearly the same size and age, and it usually 

 happens that a much greater number of small 

 Perch swim in company than is the case with the 

 larger ones. The Rev. R. Lubbock recorded the 

 capture of eighteen Perch in one place on the 

 Broads, not one of which weighed less than 2 lbs. ; 

 this illustrates well the uniform size of a shoal. 



Perch are very tenacious of life, and can be 

 sent alive for long distances packed in damp 

 grass ; in continental markets they are often 

 exhibited, and if not sold are put back in the 

 ponds from which they were taken in the morning. 



The Perch is an excellent food-fish, with white, 

 firm, and well-flavoured flesh ; those taken in clear 

 rivers are better for the table than pond-fish. It 

 affords good sport to the angler, but is overbold, and 

 except when large does not require much skill to 

 be expended on its capture ; small ones are some- 

 times used as bait for Pike. 



As an example of the boldness of this fish, 

 Mr. Pennell instances the case of a small Perch 

 which he captured, and in removing the hook 



