THE PERCH. 



PERCH cast their spawn at the latter end of April, or beginning 

 of May, and ought not to be fished for until the latter end of 

 June, or beginning of July. I have taken them, however, in 

 good condition early in June, when fishing for Bream with the 

 worm. Three or four weeks after spawning, Perch are very 

 voracious, and will run at anything ; no matter what it is, or 

 what you are fishing for, if it comes within his sight, a Perch 

 will greedily seize it. They deposit their spawn amongst 

 weeds, and in shallow spots with gravelly bottoms and weeds 

 rear. In fact, they resort to the same places as Pike do to 

 spawn. I have seen them in hundreds in places which T knew 

 to be regularly frequented for spawning purposes by Pike. But 

 Perch are more wary than their big friends, and will not ven- 

 ture to run up every dike, or small stream, that comes in their 

 way as Pike will do. I have seen them, indeed, in rivers spawn 

 in spots that I knew to be good places to fish for them. But in 

 ponds and lakes Perch always seek the shallowest parts with 

 weeds for spawning, and after the operation is over, the deeps 

 and shallows are alike. But in rivers this is not the case. 

 After remaining where the spawn is deposited they go to the 

 streams, where they stay for a short time, say in June or July. 

 They then make for their regular haunts, under weirs, and by 

 the side of sharp streams, where there are flags, and a deep heavy 

 current ; but at the end of summer they seek stiller, but not 



