78 A BOOK OF THE RUNNING BROOK: 



in lakes they are said to take a spoon better 

 than almost any other spinning bait. In this 

 matter of spoons they have their predilections \ 

 and it is said they prefer the triangular spinner 

 made of spoon-metal (commonly known as the 

 "otter") to the ordinary spoon. In some parts 

 of the country perch are fished for with a fly ; 

 and, as they are not particular about the fashion 

 of the fly, a showy one, with plenty of tinsel on 

 the body, is most to be commended. In Nor- 

 folk, the water-shrimp is a favourite bait. One 

 thing, however, that the angler should be careful 

 to remember is that the perch has a rather 

 tender mouth, and therefore needs delicate 

 handling. He should neither be struck at too 

 sharply nor played too roughly. 



Ponds in which perch are bred and kept for 

 table should be carefully netted from time to 

 time ; perch breed so fast that if care is not 

 taken to keep their numbers within bounds, 

 they will soon overstock a pond. Mutual starva- 

 tion is the result, and the owner is surprised 

 to find that his perch are rapidly degenerating 

 and becoming very small. The remedy for this 



