386 PERCH FISHING. 



" In the spring, as soon as the ice has left the streams, the 

 Perch begins running up our streams to spawn. He is ^then 

 caught in them in great plenty. About the middle of May, 

 however, he seems to prefer the Niagara's clear current, and 

 almost entirely deserts the Tonawanda, and other amber waters. 

 You will then find him in the eddies, on the edge of swift 

 ripples, and often in the swift waters, watching for the minnow. 

 As the water-weeds increase in height, he ensconces himself 

 among them, and, in mid-summer, comes out to seek his prey 

 only in the morning and towards night. He seems to delight 

 especially in a grassy bottom ; and when the black frost has cut 

 down the tall water-weeds, and the more delicate herbage that 

 never attains the surface is withered, he disappears until spring, 

 probably secluding himself in the depths of the river. 



" The back fin of the Perch is large, and armed with strong 

 spines. He is bold and ravenous. He will not give way to the 

 Pike or to the Black Bass ; and though he may sometimes be 

 eaten by them, his comrades will retaliate upon the young of his 

 destroyers. 



" The proper bait for the Perch is the minnow. He will 

 take that all seasons. In mid-summer, however, he prefers the 

 worm, at which he generally bites freely. He is often taken 

 with the grub, or with small pieces of fish of any kind." 



I may here observe that the Perch, like his congeners, the 

 various tribes of Bass, will occasionally take the fly, though not 

 so boldly or freely as to justify its use largely. 



