PERCH. 39 



head foremost, a longer time of grace is not required to be given. Strike 

 smartly when the period named has elapsed, and play yonr quarry 

 leisurely. I say leisurely advisedly, for it not unfrequently happens that 

 as one fish is being killed, another, following with curious eyes the eccen- 

 tric struggles of his confrere, perceives the other baited hook, and 

 forthwith grows voracious. Having hooked two fish, I would say get 

 them in the boat or on land as soon as possible, that is, as soon as your 

 tackle will allow.. 



The paternoster being the most efficacious of tackle for perch, I pre- 

 sume most of my readers will adopt it. Spinning and trolling with a 

 minnow are also occasionally very killing, but not so much BO in the 

 aggregate, in my experience, as paternostering. A small bronzed and 

 silvered spoon, or single hook gorge bait, are the best tackles of these 

 respective alternatives from paternostering. In the latter case the hook 

 should be somewhat larger than ordinarily used for these fish, the lead 

 light, and the bait a minnow or small gudgeon. It is necessary to give 

 about twenty seconds before striking. 



The baits and tackle may, notwithstanding the precision of the fore- 

 going, be very much diversified. Worms of nearly all kinds, gammari, 

 minnows, raw meat, &c., for example, are variously advocated. But 

 in selecting methods and baits only one process can be attended with 

 success, and that is the most natural. It may certainly be difficult 

 at times to follow this eclectic method, but the careful student of the 

 water will understand my meaning and acknowledge the truth of the 

 assertion. At one time, for example, it may be found inexpedient to 

 fish with the worm, for the reason that the lure is not in its best con- 

 dition ; at another time the minnow is unacceptable to the perch, because 

 it is flaccid with spawn ; at another the fault is in the fish itself, neces- 

 sitating the finest tackle and greatest caution and finesse. The angler, 

 therefore, in the selection of baits, as I have said, decides on those 

 likely to suit natural percine exigencies, and of course the selection of 

 bait decides the selection of tackle. 



Generally, however, very fine tackle need not be brought into requisi- 

 tion. Early in the season a cockspur worm or the tail of a lob-worm will 

 often lure your quarry on to destruction to your satisfaction. A minnow 

 is also admissible, but even more valuable than worms is the little fresh- 

 water shrimp. A good all-year-round bait is this, as well as specially 

 good for early season. It is necessary to use a roach hook, however, 

 when fishing with it, and to strike immediately. The live shrimp is, as 

 well, a capital lure in brackish water, and an imitation shrimp is said 

 to be irresistible when the perch frequent the shallows during the heat 

 of summer. It should be thrown like a fly. 



