The Fourth Day 153 



But bite the Perch will, and that very boldly. 

 And, as one has wittily observed, if there be twenty 

 or forty in a hole, they may be, at one standing, all 

 catched one after another; they being, as he says, 

 like the wicked of the world, not afraid, though 

 their fellows and companions perish in their sight. 

 And you may observe, that they are not like the 

 solitary Pike, but love to accompany one another, 

 and march together in troops. 



And the baits for this bold fish are not many : I 

 mean, he will bite as well at some, or at any of 

 these three, as at any or all others whatsoever : a 

 worm, a minnow, or a little frog, of which you may 

 find many in hay-time. And of worms ; the dung- 

 hill worm called a brandling I take to be best, being 

 well scoured in moss or fennel ; or he will bite at a 

 worm that lies under cow-dung, with a bluish head. 

 And if you rove for a Perch with a minnow, then it 

 is best to be alive ; you sticking your hook through 

 his back fin; or a minnow with the hook in his 

 upper lip, and letting him swim up and down, 

 about mid-water, or a little lower, and you still 

 keeping him to about that depth by a cork, which 

 ought not to be a very little one : and the like way 

 you are to fish for the Perch with a small frog, your 

 hook being fastened through the skin of his leg, 

 towards the upper part of it : and, lastly, I will give 

 you but this advice, that you give the Perch time 

 enough when he bites ; for there was scarce ever any 

 angler that has given him too much. And now I 

 think best to rest myself; for I have almost spent 

 my spirits with talking so long. 



VENATOR. Nay, good master, one fish more, for 

 you see it rains still : and you know our angles are 

 like money put to usury ; they may thrive, though 

 we sit still, and do nothing but talk and enjoy one 

 another. Come, come, the other fish, good master. 



