140 HINTS ON ANGLING. 



colour, and full of condition and vigour. In cloudy wea- 

 ther this fish will bite all day; but, generally speaking, 

 early in the morning and late in the day, far into the 

 evening, are the most favourable periods. The largest 

 perch we ever saw taken were caught with a dew- worm, 

 just over the shallow water, near a public ferry, where 

 the bottom was gravelly, and the water not too clear. 

 They were taken between three and five in the morning, 

 in August, whilst the thick heavy dew was on the water, 

 and before it had been disturbed by the usual traffic. 



The hooks generally recommended for perch-fishing 

 are all too small. No. 4 will be found the most efficient 

 size; for this fish has a large mouth, out of which a small 

 hook may very easily slip. 



As to the float, if he must have one, the angler should 

 be guided by circumstances, such as weight of shot, na- 

 ture of bait, current, depth, etc., but on no account should 

 it be very large; indeed, as a general rule, every part of 

 an angler's apparatus, which may be seen by the fish, 

 should be as small as the exigencies of the case will 

 permit. 



23att for <2Darp. 



This is a shy, cunning, careful fish, very crafty and 

 suspicious, and therefore extremely difficult to deceive. 

 All the skill and ingenuity of the angler are required to 

 entrap him; and his patience that only virtue which 

 the wise of this world will allow him will be tried to 

 the uttermost. 



The baits recommended for the carp arc very nume- 

 rous, and many of them very fanciful. Pastes of all kinds 

 and colours, flavoured with cheese, sugar, honey, gin, 

 etc.; beans, corn, flies, slugs, gentles, giubs, caterpillars, 



