316 WHAT I HAVE SEEN WHILE FISHING 



close to the fisher that he can see them, with spines 

 erect, perfect in shape, markings and colouring, 

 veritable warriors ready for the fray. 



During the summer months they are in weirs 

 and at the edges of swift streams where minnows 

 and other small fish congregate to sport, scour 

 and enjoy themselves, but, with the first flood of 

 Autumn, they fall back to quiet eddies, deep pools 

 and under boughs, where they move in and out, 

 up and down, with wide-open, staring eyes, as if, 

 with these alone, they would fascinate to helpless- 

 ness the dainty little fish they are seeking for. 



Perch will at times take almost any bait, but 

 there are really only two used, worms and minnows. 



It is difficult to demonstrate, even to yourself, 

 that you may often catch every member of a shoal ; 

 yet their mid-water swimming aids you to do so 

 occasionally. I will give an instance when this 

 undoubtedly occurred. 



In a hole in the river Evenlode, just at the 

 point where Blenheim Lake flows out, I threw in 

 some half dozen brandlings, and, as I stood hidden 

 behind the accommodating bush that overhangs 

 the pool, I saw a shoal come at the sinking worms. 

 The nearest fish came quite near me, and others 

 in his wake were plainly visible, while in the 

 farther distance I could see shadowy forms. I 

 was soon at my well-stocked bag to give them 

 another taste or two before I stealthily prepared 

 the exact tackle to have my will with them. This 





