PERCH AND POPE. 41 



found in the eddies of milltails, and weirs, also in deep still 

 holes, about bridges, and in deep quiet corners of rivers as well 

 as in ponds. I have known them to grow to between five and 

 six pounds weight, but from a quarter of a pound to a pound 

 is the ordinary size. 



HE Rod for Perch-fishing should be light, about twelve 

 feet in length, of mottled cane, with upright rings, not 

 too stiff, but sufficiently so to strike sharp from the top. 



In ponds and small rivers forty or fifty yards of prepared 



plaited silk line will be enough j on a winch of proportionate 

 size ; but in the Thames it will be safer to have a longer line, 

 from sixty to a hundred yards. For in Perch-fishing from 

 a weir you are extremely likely to hook a Trout or vice versd. 

 One of the most successful modes of fishing is with the 

 Paternoster. This is used properly without a float although 

 some prefer it with ; in length is about a yard and a half, of 

 gut not too stout, with a Paternoster lead fastened to the 

 bottom of it by a fine silk loop. This loop is made of fine 

 silk, so that should the lead foul amongst the large stones at 

 bottom, it may be broken off, without endangering the rest 

 of the tackle. On the gut are looped three hooks, size No. 

 4 or 5, which are tied to short pieces of gut about five inches 

 in length. The bottom hook should be six or seven inches 

 above the lead, the next about a foot above the bottom hook 

 and the next a foot above that, as in the sketch, Page 33. 



To use the Paternoster fasten the loop to the running-line 

 as usual, and bait with very small gudgeons or large minnows, 

 varying them with marsh or red worms ; such as a marsh 

 worm on the bottom hook, minnow or gudgeon on the middle 

 and red worm at the top. Some prefer all minnows, hooked 

 through the side of the lips. Commence by dropping in near 

 the side of the river or pond, but if there is one place more 

 likely than another, by all means try it first. Let the Pater- 

 noster sink till the lead touches the bottom, keeping the line 

 rather tight to it. After a few minutes if you have no success, 

 work it towards you by raising the point of the rod and 

 drawing in a yard or so, of line slowly, still touching the 

 bottom with the lead. When you have a touch, slacken your 



