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apt, unless the bottom be of chalk, gravel, or sand, to 

 acquire a very muddy taste j from which, however, they 

 may be purged, by keeping in pure water for a few days. 



Whether in rivers or in ponds, the perch attains to a 

 good size, frequently averaging from one to three pounds 

 each, and sometimes reaching to five pounds. I think 

 they acquire greater bulk in ponds ; but have not so 

 much vigour, nor are they so firm, nor so high coloured, 

 as those bred in strong clear waters. 



The perch is one of the predatory tribe, and has very 

 sharp teeth ; his scales are not very large, but have a pe- 

 culiar rough feel. His back has a sudden rise from the 

 setting on of the neck, giving that peculiar appearance 

 we call " hog-lack" Perch are very strong, and afford 

 excellent play. 



You should bait for them with two worms on your 

 hook, which should be about No. 5, or 6, according as 

 the fish run; or you may use the minnow, the stickle- 

 lack, or the loach ; putting your hook through their lips, 

 or through the fleshy part of the back. When you use 

 the stickleback, you must cut away the back and side 

 spikes, else the perch, though he may bite, will not gorge* 



Where the perch run very large, you may use a small 

 gudgeon 5 taking care to have such a float as it cannot 

 pull under water. The best worms are the middle-sized 

 Brandlings, especially those found in tanners' rotten, 

 bark : next to them I should choose the common red- 

 worm, or the well-scoured cow-dung lob. 



Your tackle must be strong 5 such as a very thick gut 

 for your foot-length ; or if you suspect there are jacks, 

 you may substitute the smallest sized yellow gimp > which 

 I find they take better than they do the white sort. 



Anglb 



