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CHAPTER XIX. 



PERCH. 



Omnivorous instincts of Perch — Natural and artificial baits — Spinnings 

 fly-fishing. Li've baiting, ' paternoster ing' and 'roving.' Worm- 

 fishing in lakes, ponds, and ri-vers. Spawning season. 



The Pope or Ruffe. 



Though fishing for Perch properly belongs to — indeed 

 heads — this division of my subject, yet by its habits of 

 feeding and the methods of angling employed for its 

 capture, it might justly claim honourable mention both 

 under the category of fly-fishing, and, taking the word 

 in its widest sense, of trolling also. Thus, for example, 

 in the great lakes Perch will often take a spun Minnow or 

 a bright fly in preference to any other baits, whilst both 

 in lake and river the deadly qualities of a live Minnow or 

 small Gudgeon are well known to all Perch fishers. 



In the case of lake-spinning for Perch it would seem 

 that the usual rule in regard to the superiority of natural 

 over artificial baits is reversed. Whether from the 

 greater facility with which small artificial baits are pro- 

 curable, or from some other cause, I have certainly 

 caught and seen caught, far more Perch by the arti- 



