BAIT FOR PERCH. 139 



Several kinds of bait are recommended for the perch; 

 gudgeon, minnow, worms, gentles, frogs. Undoubtedly 

 this fish will take all these, and many others of a similar 

 kind. We have seen them, for instance, killed with 

 slugs; and the stone-loach is thought to be very persua- 

 sive. The best bait, however, for this fish, taking all 

 things into consideration, season, size of fish, state of 

 water, weather, etc. etc., is, a fine large red garden-worm ; 

 commonly called a lob, or dew-worm. These may be 

 gathered by thousands, late in the evening after rain, with- 

 out any fear of injuring them, as they are then crawling 

 about, out of the ground ; but none but red worms must 

 be taken, the black being altogether useless, avoided 

 even by small eels. Fill a large flower-pot, or some 

 other convenient vessel, earthenware being preferable, with 

 a quantity of long clean moss; press it down hard, put 

 the worms on the top of it, and drop upon them 

 a very small quantity of pure sweet milk, to purge and 

 purify them. If this moss be frequently washed and 

 turned, and the worms carefully put on the top of it every 

 time, they will keep a long period, and will become clear, 

 firm, and of surprising toughness. We do not believe 

 that a better bait than these worms, so prepared, can be 

 found for perch. Brandlings, and small red worms, and 

 other fancy things of the sort are lauded by some authors ; 

 but a little experience will soon convince the angler, that 

 there is nothing comparable to a well-prepared dew- worm. 

 It will often even tempt the pike, late in the evening, 

 when he is roving about shallow places in search of prey ; 

 and a large eel will rush at it greedily. 



Perch may be caught nearly all the year round; but 

 perhaps August, September, and October are the best 

 months, as the fish are then in high season, splendid in 



