THE PERCH. 



143 



There are many other varieties in the ponds and brooks 

 spread over the length and breadth of the country ; and al- 

 though they do not give as much sport to the Angler in their 

 capture, as the trout and similar descriptions, still they are 

 much sought after, and considered a fine table fish. They 

 generally spawn in the month of March; and although they 

 may be taken at almost any time, either in winter or summer, 

 they may be had in the largest quantities and in the finest 

 condition, from May to July. The time of day in which the 

 fisher will be most successful in taking them, is from seven 

 until ten in the morning, or from four until dusk in the eve- 

 ning. They are very slow in their growth, though some- 

 times attaining a very large size, and multiply very fast. 



Smith remarks : " Perhaps there is not another fish, with 

 the exception of the eel, so universally spread over the globe, 

 as the fresh water perch. It is delicate food, and therefore 

 exceedingly valued. From the largest rivers above the influ- 

 ence of tides, to the smallest rills which trickle down the 

 sides of the lofty mountain, the perch is always to be found. 

 They swim swiftly, keeping near the surface, feeding on flies 

 and minute insects. In the lake of Geneva, a female was 

 caught, from which 992,000 ova were taken. This fact shows 

 very clearly that it is marvellously prolific, yet not ten in a 

 hundred of the ova arrive at maturity, being the food of 

 others. To the Greeks and Romans, this fish was perfectly 

 familiar." 



Of English authority, Blaine says : " The perch is con- 

 sidered slow in its growth; but its increase depends much on 

 the nature of its habitation: in ponds, and other small and 

 perfectly stagnant waters, it grows slowly, and seldom ar- 

 rives at last to any great size or weight ; but in rivers, in es- 

 tuaries, and particularly in such waters as are subject to the 

 rising tide, and as are slightly impregnated with brackish 

 particles, although without current, they grow fast, and be- 



