THE PERCH. 121 



tion of Mr. Perch. When the float bobs down with a perch 

 bite, don't strike at once, give him a few seconds, and let 

 him have a trifle of line ; and when you feel the quick tug, 

 tug, tug, which ensues, strike firmly, but don't hit him too 

 hard. The reason why you give him a few seconds is be- 

 cause the hook is at the lip of the minnow, and a perch 

 takes them by the tail, and he has the whole of the minnow 

 to get into his mouth before the hook can take effect ; at 

 least that is my impression. With this tackle you can use 

 worms, for some odd times he will not look at the minnow, 

 but will take a well-scoured worm. In swift boiling waters, 

 or in a rapid stream, in which very often the largest perch 

 are to be found, and where you cannot very well use a float, 

 Jhen an arrangement that is called a paternoster is used. 

 This paternoster consists of about four feet of gut without 

 any split shots on it ; and at the bottom there is a plumb, or 

 heavy ledger, to keep the bait well down. Above this lead 

 there are two or three hooks on which the minnows are 

 impaled ; two will be sufficient. On the gut bottom, about 

 a foot from each other, two loops are tied — the bottom one a 

 few inches from the lead, and in these loops a piece of fine 

 gut about six inches long is also tied with a No. 4 or 5 hook 

 on the end. The minnow is baited in the same way as for 

 the float tackle. Do not use a dead minnow, but see that 

 he is perfectly lively. To use this, cast the plumb down 

 and across stream, when the plumb touches the bottom hold 

 it tight there, and let it stay a minute, then slowly wind up 

 the line and draw the baits towards you, but let them come 

 very slowly ; when you get them as near you as you can, 

 lift the plumb out of the water and make your cast again. 

 Throw it in all directions so as to search the whole of the 

 water well ; when you get a bite, remember what I said 

 before, don't strike at once, but give the fish a few seconds, 

 so that he may have time to get the bait in his mouth well. 



