THE PERCH. 



the jolting about during carriage keeps the water weH 

 aerated ; but still if two or three small triangular nicks are 

 cut into the cork, the chances of them living longer will be 

 all the better. It is a nuisance carrying a bait-can with a 



Fig. 20. The Quill Minnow. 



few minnows in, a bottle is far handier, you are not so liable 

 to empty the water into your pocket as you are with a can. 

 Small perch are sometimes taken with an artificial fly. A 

 little Zulu with a red tag appears to be the favourite ; but 

 it is very little good, or, indeed, I should suppose hardly 

 any anglers go after perch specially with the fly. When they 

 are captured it is generally when dace fishing across the 

 shallows and streamy backwaters, and looked upon as 

 merely an accident ; but still I have known as many as a 

 dozen perch to be landed during a single evening on the 

 fly. 



With regard to spinning for perch, this, in my opinion, 

 is only a very sorry business, and not so safe as either worm 

 fishing or patemostering. It is true a few odd ones are 

 got now and again by that plan, but this game is apt to be 



Fig. 21. The Spiral Minnow. 



a little expensive. You are in all probability using an arti- 

 ficial that cost from one to two shillings, and small jack will 

 persist in running at them and quietly severing the gut with 

 their teeth, and if this happens two or three times during 



