THE PERCH FAMILY. 95 



The sinker, conical or round, should be in size from a buck- 

 shot to a half ounce bullet. Its weight must depend on the 

 depth and force of the current ; it should be attached by a 

 weak piece of gut or thread at the junction of the leader with 

 the line ; so that in case of its being caught between the 

 rocks, you may lose only the bullet, and not your leader and 

 hooks. 



When fishing in slack water, especially by the edge of the 

 water-lilies or grass, it is advisable to use a float ; the Perch, 

 like other predatory fish, seldom taking a bait on the bottom, 

 unless it is in motion. The distance between the hooks and 

 the float should not be more than two-thirds or three-fourths 

 the depth of the water. 



Where the tide sweeps around the end of a pier, or the piles 

 of a bridge, Perch frequently are found in the eddies on the 

 edge of the current, waiting for minnows or shrimp ; then a 

 short line (without a reel) is preferable. In such places they 

 can at times be taken with a pearl minnow. In a tideway or 

 lively water, always fish down stream, to prevent the current 

 bringing your line home to you, and so as to allow it to lift 

 the sinker and leader from the bottom, and veer it about in 

 such way, that the bait will appear attractive. In fishing 

 from a boat, anchor just far enough above the desired place 

 to fish into it, occasionally trying either side. If you are in 

 the right place, and the fish are on the feed, there is no ne- 

 cessity for striking, if the line is kept taut, for they generally 

 hook themselves at the first pass they make at the bait. 



If the angler is not greedy for a large catch, and the fish are 

 found near the surface, and on the shallow rapids, as they 

 sometimes are on a warm day in May, a stout fly-rod and 

 light tackle might be used, baiting with a single eel, and 

 without using a sinker, casting and drawing as with a heavy 

 fly. Of course it takes longer to secure a fish by such means, 

 but the sport is heightened. 



