48 NATURALISTS CABINET. 



Great diversion tor ihe angler. 



streams that have a communication with some 

 river. They will also thrive fast in ponds that 

 are fed by a brook or rivulet. They are exceed- 

 ingly tenacious of life, having been known to 

 survive a journey of near sixty miles, although 

 packed in dry straw. They live chiefly upon 

 the smaller fish, but are in their turn the prey 

 of the pike, but more of eels, and likewise of 

 clucks. It is, however, generally believed that 

 the pike will not attack a full grown perch, on 

 account of the spiny fins on its back, which this 

 fish always erects on the approach of an enemy. 

 The smaller perch, however, have been frequent- 

 ly used with success, (as the Rev. Mr. Daniel 

 remarks,) as bait for the pike. 



Perch spawn, according to many opinions, in 

 February or March, but certainly in April or 

 May. They are said usually to deposit their 

 spawn, sometimes to the amount of two hundred 

 and eighty thousand ova, while rubbing them- 

 selves against some sharp body. 



The perch affords the angler great diversion, 

 the season for which is from April to January ; 

 and the time from sunrise till ten o'clock, and 

 from two o'clock till sunset ; except in cloudy 

 weather, with a ruffling south wind, when they 

 will bite all day. The baits are various kinds of 

 worms, a minnow, or grasshopper. So voracious 

 are these fish, that, it is said, if an expert angler 

 "find a shoal of them, he is sure of taking every 

 one. If, however, a single fish escape that has 



