PERCH AND POPE. 43 



'HE easiest way of Perch-fishing is with a float ; this may 

 be either cork, reed or quill, the first is the best ; have 

 it as small as possible, with due regard to the amount of 

 ^^ current in the stream you are going to fish ; a three 

 yard gut line, stained blue, and a No. 6 hook. Bait with a 

 marsh worm or minnow, the latter may be hooked through the 

 back fin or through the lip ; and fish a foot from the bottom at 

 least. The depth of the water may be ascertained sufficiently 

 near for the purpose without a plummet, by setting the float, 

 at what you consider the average depth : on trying it, if the 

 float swims properly, set it deeper, and so on till the float 

 rises a little or lays on one side, which it will do as soon as 

 the shots touch the ground ; when it does so, about a foot 

 less will be the depth of the water ; that being about the 

 distance from the shots to the hook. When you see a bite, 

 give time, and allow the float to go well under before you 

 strike. 



r INKING and Drawing for Perch, as it is termed, is 

 practised without a float, and with two or three shots 

 on the gut line to sink the bait ; which should be a 

 marsh-worm, or two bright red-worms. The bait is 

 dropped into holes and eddies, among the roots of trees grow- 

 ing in the water, or close to piles, <fec., let it sink nearly to 

 the bottom, then draw it up gradually; and so on, sinking 

 and drawing up, till you feel a bite, when proceed as already 

 directed. 



fHE Pope or Euife is much like the Perch in habits and 

 shape, also in the first dorsal-fin which it erects when 

 alarmed, in a similar manner; the body is thickly 



spotted with small dark spots ; and the tail and tail 



end' of body is shaped and spotted in the same manner as 

 a Gudgeon. They are occasionally taken in the Thames 

 when fishing for Gudgeon ; spawning about April and seldom 

 growing longer than six inches. Use a small hook and bait 

 with a red-worm. 



