CHAPTER XXI. 



OF THE WHITE PERCH, 





THIS fine fish, although a general inhabitant of most of our 

 fresh water ponds, is often found in many of our large rivers, 

 where he partakes more of the active nature of the striped, or 

 Black Basse (to which family he belongs), than of that of his more 

 sluggish but less active and nearer relative, the Yellow Perch. 



At the High Bridge, Harlem River, they are taken in large 

 quantities, and sometimes of large size, all through the summer 

 season ; they also abound in many parts of the Hudson, Dela- 

 ware, and Schuylkill rivers, and are the objects of much sport 

 in many parts of Connecticut, the large ponds of Long Island, 

 and the streams of various other parts of the United States. 



They are generally caught with the usual Trout, or Perch 

 tackle, except when found in the more rapid rivers, when the 

 angler delights to master him with his Basse rod, stronger bot- 

 tom lengths, and hooks in proportion. It is also well to pre- 

 pare in this manner, in order to be in readiness for larger fish, 

 w'nich in the rivers and often in the large ponds, give conside- 

 rable trouble. A Connecticut friend, who was once almost 

 mastered by a large pike, whilst angling for white perch, gives 

 the following graphic account of his success. 



" I had been fishing nearly the whole afternoon ; the sun had 

 almost set, and I was drifting along with the declining wind, 

 not far from the shore of a lake, near the southern part of the 

 state, when I felt a most violent jerk at my line, which imme- 

 diately began to run out with great rapidity. Supposing my 

 fugitive to be only a remarkably vigorous perch, I attempted to 

 check him, but found the strain so great as to convince me that 

 I had encountered a more powerful opponent. I had only a 

 slight trouting-rod, with a very slender silk and hair line, and 



