THE PERCH. 143 



captured in the neighbourhood of Newark was taken out of 

 the Devon, it was only an ounce or two short of two pounds. 2 

 I have, however, an idea that if they were properly angled 

 for there are some good perch in Besthorp Fleet (a large 

 sheet of water a short distance from the Trent, about eight 

 miles below Newark), in fact, I think of experimenting 

 there before long. A perch is a splendid fish for the table, 

 a small one out of a stagnant pond is not very good, but a 

 good river perch is excellent; his flesh is white, firm, and 

 flaky, without so many of the objectionable small bones of 

 the roach. I have them opened and well cleaned, and a little 

 salt rubbed down the backbone, and then simply broiled in 

 their jackets. When they are cooked the skin and scales all 

 slip off, they are then seasoned to taste. The rod, reel, and 

 line described in Chapter II. will be most suitable for perch 

 fishing, and the tackle may be stoutish roach tackle, about 

 three or four feet long, with a No. 5 or 6 hook on the end. 

 A perch has a large mouth and so it is better to have a large 

 hook \ the float can either be a quill or a very small cork one, 

 according to the strength of the stream. I prefer a quill and 

 tackle (except in the case of the hook), as recommended for 

 dace fishing when the bait is worms. A few worms cut up 

 as you are fishing and thrown in, is quite sufficient for ground 

 bait ; the hook bait is a worm, the tail end of a well-scoured 

 lob- worm is the best of all, while brandlings or small red 

 worms can be tried for a change. When a perch takes the 

 bait, give him a second, and then strike lightly, and play 

 him carefully, for if you prick, hook, and lose a perch or 

 two, it is fatal to your chance of success, unless they happen 

 to be well " on," which is not often the case ; and if you 

 get a shoal of perch in a biting humour, nothing would be 

 more annoying than to prick a fish or two. The rest of 

 them are frightened, and fly out of the swim, and nothing 



2 Two fish larger than this have come under my observation since 

 then ; one was caught in the ballast hole with a pike bait, and another 

 in the Witham with a worm, weighing something like two and a half 

 pounds apiece. I got the best dish of perch I ever got in my life 

 about two years ago out of the Witham, capturing fifteen fish that 

 weighed 12| Ibs., using lire minnows on a single hook for bait. 



