THE PERCH 57 



because of the stillness of the air, but at that distance it could 

 not be called loud ; yet the shoal of fry instantly darted into 

 the deeper water. In a little while they began to creep back 

 towards the shore, where minute delicacies most abounded. 

 Then came another shot — off again went the fry ; and so after 

 every shot, repeating the performance for my edification eight or 

 nine times. There could not be the slightest doubt that these 

 inexperienced little creatures felt alarmed and fled for shelter at 

 the unaccustomed noise ; but it is difficult to understand why 

 such a comparatively feeble sound should have frightened them. 

 The Helmsdale is a salmon river which I have visited each spring 

 for several years past. The Highland Railway follows the 

 course of the stream, and at certain places runs close beside 

 it. I have felt the earth tremble, and the whole valley fill with 

 dreadful noise, as a heavy train roared close alongside the pool 

 in which I have been fishing ; yet it is no uncommon experience 

 to hook and kill a fresh-run salmon immediately after a train 

 has passed. In short, the din and the violent vibration seem to 

 have no alarming effect at all upon the fish, although to a 

 salmon which had left the silent ocean depths but a few hours 

 before, one would expect that the sound would prove as start- 

 ling as it was novel. 



Considered as a sporting fish, the perch possesses that 

 quahty which adds incalculably to the excitement of pursuit 

 Perch as and the gratification of the captor — it is excellent as 

 food. food. This may seem but a sordid consideration, 

 yet it is one inseparable from most field sports. We hunt the 

 fox, though when we catch him we can make no use of him at 

 all ; but we often get plenty of fun out of " Charlie," although 

 he may live to run another day. If the sport of fox-hunting is 

 to continue, foxes must first of all be preserved, or they would 

 soon be exterminated as completely as wolves have been in 

 Britain, and for the same reason, that they were destructive 

 beasts of prey. They must next be killed in moderate numbers, 

 or the country would becom.e overrun with them. But nobody 



