64 FISH : THEIR HABITS AND HAUNTS. 



and tying a strong cord about the neck of the 

 bottle so prepared, sink it near a pile in a 

 river, or in a deep hole near the bank. This 

 should be done early in the morning or late 

 in the evening, when no one is about to 

 witness the operation ; conceal the cord and 

 the bottle for two days. At the end of that 

 time drop a paternoster baited with live min- 

 nows by the side of the bottle, and you may 

 be sure of excellent sport, as the sight of 

 the minnows in the bottle will have attracted 

 numerous perch to the spot. 



THE SMELT. 



The body of the smelt is long and slender ; 

 the color of the back a pale green, and the 

 belly a silvery white ; the scales are oval and 

 small, and fins are all of a yellowish white. 

 The smelt is remarkable for its pleasant and 

 peculiar smell. It spawns in March or 

 April, and inhabits the fresh-water from 

 August till May. After spawning it returns 



