PEARCH FISHING. 



293 



m 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 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 espe- 

 cially 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 Pearch 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 com- 

 rades will retaliate upon the young of his destroyers. 



" The proper bait for the Pearch is the Minnow. He will take that 

 all seasons. In mid-summer, however, he prefers the worm, at whicti 

 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 Pearch, like his congeners, the various 

 tribes of Bass, will occasionally take the fly, though not so bciVlly or 

 freely as to justify its use largely. 



