38 THE JOLLY ANGLER. 



defended with two fins of a formidable make, being armed 

 with a row of spikes, on a large one sufficient to defend 

 him from the all-devouring jaws of the Pike ; the lower 

 fins are of a bright vermilion ; the back has a row of five 

 or six dark stripes running across it, dying away as they 

 approach the belly, which in river fish is of a silvery 

 whiteness ; they are gregarious, though they do not keep 

 in such large shoals as many other fish ; their scales are 

 small and hard. They are to be found in many ponds, as 

 well as in most Docks, Rivers, &c., where they will grow 

 to two or three pounds in weight. The common means 

 of catching them are easily practised, as they are a bold- 

 biting fish, and will, if you give them time, gorge the 

 bait; your rod should be strong and light, with a gut line, 

 a small cork float, and a No. 6 hook ; bait with a marsh 

 or brandling worm, and fish in the most quiet and still 

 parts, by flood-gates, about roots of trees, mill-heads, or 

 where there is little or no stream, as they delight most in 

 such places; the same tackle and baits will answer for 

 ponds where the fish run small and numerous, which is 

 usually the case ; your hook should be off the bottom a 

 little, as Perch seldom lie on the grouud, like many other 

 fish. Where there are large fish, you should have a winch 

 and running line with a live Minnow for a bait, (a Loach, 

 small Gudgeon, or a Prickleback, will do, if you cannot 

 get Minnows); your hook should now be No. 5, tied to 

 strong gut, or fine gimp is best; place your hook through 

 the back of the fish, thus 

 and when you have a bite, 

 give time to gorge the bait; 

 by these means you will like- 

 wise take occasionally a 

 Jack, Chub, or Trout; ob- 

 serve, I never found any ad- 

 vantage in ground-baiting for Perch. I believe the best 

 plan is, not to stop many minutes in one place unless you 

 have a bite; if you catch one, put in again as quiet as 

 possible, for you mostly take two or three following. 

 Sometimes I move my bait backwards or forwards a 

 little, occasionally lifting it near the surface, by which 

 means I have tempted fish to take the bait that otherwise 



