50 THE PERCH. 



hearted fish does not exist, there are few if any in 

 the Thames that can compare with him for eating. 

 The smaller perch should be water-souched, or, if 

 for breakfast, fried. The larger ones, say from half 

 a pound upwards, are never better than when boiled, 

 and, with the addition of a little plain sauce of 

 melted butter and anchovy, afford a dish for an 

 epicure. 



The ordinary mode of fishing for perch is with a 

 light rod, a long line, and a large float. Fine fishing 

 is thrown away, for the perch is a greedy fish, rushes 

 incontinently at the bait, and if given time enough 

 is pretty certain to hook himself, though, as in the 

 case of other fish, it is necessary to strike by way 

 of clinching the bargain. 



He is, as has been intimated, fond of gudgeon, 

 although the feeling is not reciprocated ; but his 

 " favourite vanity " is the minnow, and great havoc 

 the perch must make among that long-suffering 

 race. I have taken six or eight out of the stomach 

 of a perch of half a pound weight. The mode of 

 baiting is very simple. Pass the hook (No. 7) 

 through the upper lip, a good-sized shot having 

 been previously attached to the line a few inches 

 above ; regulate the float a large one to a depth 

 varying from four to six feet, and if in a stream, 

 allow the line to run out, as in barbel-fishing, as far 



