THE PERCH. 57 



rather than the rapid and turbulent. Worms, 

 small fish, as minnows, and frogs, are its usual 

 prey ; it is bold and ravenous, and eagerly 

 seizes the bait ; and, says Walton, " as one has 

 wittily observed, if there be twenty or forty in 

 a hole, they may be at one standing all catched 

 one after another, they being, as he says, like 

 the wicked of the world, not afraid, though 

 their fellows and companions perish in their 

 sight." During the winter, however, excepting 

 the day be warm, the perch can seldom be 

 taken by the angle, nor does it bite freely till 

 the mulberry tree buds, that is, until the chilly 

 portion of the spring is over. 



The perch will live long out of the water, 

 and in a basket of wet moss may be carried to 

 a very great distance, especially if a little 

 water be occasionally poured over it. On the 

 continent, where fresh water fishes are much in 

 request, perch are often carried in this manner 

 to market, and if not sold at the close of the 

 day, taken back, replaced in the pond, and thus 

 reserved for another occasion. The breeding 

 season of this fish is about the beginning of 

 May. 



The perch seldom attains a very great size ; 

 a fish of the weight of half a pound or a pound 

 is fine, and one of two or three pounds may be 



