54 PERCH WITH THE FLY. [PART I. 



On my return I found it had been gorged by an 

 Eel, not a large one, but still quite large enough 

 to swear by. 



It is pretty generally known that Perch will 

 occasionally take a fly. Although they will rarely 

 do so in rivers, yet in ponds not only is such a 

 circumstance not of unfrequent occurrence, but 

 the fly is actually sometimes one of the best baits 

 that can be used for them. As a proof of this, 

 a friend of mine one day caught in this way in 

 Little Frencham Pond, not far from Farnham, 

 sixty-five Perch averaging about a pound each; 

 and on the same day, another rod, also fishing 

 with the fly a brightish one, such as you would 

 use for Sea-Trout caught there between eighty 

 and ninety pounds weight of Perch, besides a Jack 

 of about six pounds. 



