Pearch. 

 (Fine Specimen, from a Painting by F. R. LEE, R.A.) 



THE FOURTH DAY. 



(Continued.) 



CHAPTER XII. 



OBSERVATIONS OF THE PEARCH, AND DIRECTIONS HOW TO FISH FOR HIM. 



Pise. The Pearch is a very good, and a very bold-biting 

 fish. He is one of the fishes of prey that, like the pike 

 and trout, carries his teeth in his mouth, which is very 

 large ; and he dare venture to kill and devour several other 

 kinds of fish. He has a hooked, or hog-back, which is 

 armed with sharp and stiff bristles, and all his skin armed 

 or covered over with thick, dry, hard scales ; and hath, 

 which few other fish have, two fins on his back. He is so 

 bold that he will invade one of his own kind, which the 

 pike will not do so willingly ; and you may therefore easily 

 believe him to be a bold biter. 



The pearch is of great esteem in Italy, saith Aldrovandus ; 

 and especially the least are there esteemed a dainty dish. 

 And Gesner prefers the pearch and pike above the trout, or 

 any fresh-water fish : he says, the Germans have this 

 proverb, " more wholesome than a pearch of Rhine :" and 

 he says the river-pearch is so wholesome, that physicians 



