152 PERCH, CARP. 



THE PERCH. 



The perch is a gregarious fish, commonly taking up its 

 residence in deep holes, and gently flowing streams. It is 

 extremely voracious, and bites with such avidity, that, if the 

 angler chances to fall in with a shoal, he seldom fails to 

 catch numbers. It has been commonly supposed that the 

 pike will not attack this fish, for fear of its thorny spines, 

 which it erects on the approach of danger; but, though this 

 may be literally true with respect to the large fish, it is 

 well known that small ones offer the most alluring bait that 

 can be laid for the pike. 



The body of the perch is deep ; the scales are extremely 

 rough ; and the back is much arched. The colours are 

 exquisitely beautiful; the back and part of the sides being 

 of a deep green, marked with five broad black bars pointing 

 downwards ; the belly is white, tinged with red 5 the 

 ventral fins are of a rich scarlet colour ; and the anal fin 

 and the tail are of the same hue, but somewhat fainter. 



THE CARP. 



This fish, though now so well known, was not introduced 

 into this island till about the year 1514. It is the most 

 suitable of all others for stocking ponds, on account of its 

 quick growth and prodigious increase. The body is thick ; 

 the scales very large : the jaws are of equal length ; and on 

 each side of the mouth is a single beard, and above these 

 are two more, but shorter. The average weight is about 

 five pounds, but some have reached twenty. Carps are 

 long-lived ; and Gesiier makes mention of one that was 

 known to reach a hundred years. They are capable of 

 existing a considerable time out of their native element ; 

 and have been fed by a particular process, after being 

 taken from the pond. They are excessively cunning, and 

 shy of taking a bait; though, during spawning time, they 

 will suffer themselves to be tickled, handled, and caught 

 with facility. 



