246 THE PERCH 



came freely to my hooks, and were landed one after 

 the other forthwith there was no need to play them 

 on such strong tackle on the banks of the mill-dam. 

 It was an ideal place : a good depth of water and 

 an old decaying camp-sheathed bank. My big friend 

 speedily threw his minnows away in disgust, went and 

 dug more worms, and we almost filled our creels with 

 perch. 



We were fishing by courtesy of the miller ; but 

 there were one or two people living in the neighbour- 

 hood who took out tickets, or something of the kind, 

 and one of these came down in the afternoon, went 

 to the far side of the pond, and threw out two live baits 

 for jack. He landed a few fish, I remember ; and I 

 was immensely impressed by hearing him ask his 

 groom whether the 3-lb. perch which he had caught 

 the day before had been taken up to the Vicarage. 

 I wonder if Godstone mill-pond still holds such 

 monsters. This one was taken on live-bait tackle 

 intended for jack. 



Truth to say, there is no great art in catching 

 pond perch. Keep out of sight, bait with worm or 

 gudgeon, and, if they are at all inclined to be shy, 

 throw in a few worms from time to time. If necessary, 

 bait up a place the day before. An old fisherman 

 told me that he once knew another old fisherman 



