EPISODES 



511 



sends it off to its full length directly across the stream. No 

 sooner has it reached the gravelly bed than, gently urged 

 by the current, it rolls over and over, until the line and the 

 water follow the same direction. Before this, however, I 

 ^ee that several of the men have had a bite, and that by a 

 short jerk they have hooked the fish. Hand over hand 

 they haul in their lines. Poor Perch, it is useless labor for 

 thcc to flounce and splash in that manner, for no pity will 

 be shown thee, and thou shalt be dashed on the sand, and 

 left there to quiver in the agonies of death. The lines are 

 within a few yards of being in. I see the fish gasping on 

 its side. Ah ! there are two on this line, both good ; on 

 most of the others there is one ; but I see some of the 

 lines have been robbed by some cunning inhabitant of the 

 water. What beautiful fishes these Perches are ! So sil- 

 very beneath, so deeply colored above ! What a fine eye, 

 too ! But, friend, I cannot endure their gaspings. Pray 

 put them on this short line, and place them in the water 

 beside you, until you prepare to go home. In a few hours 

 each fisher has obtained as many as he wishes. He rolls 

 up his line, fastens five or six Perches on each side of his 

 saddle, mounts his horse, and merrily wends his way. 



In this manner the White Perch is caught along the 

 sandy banks of the Ohio, from its mouth to its source. 

 In many parts above Louisville some fishers prefer using 

 the trot-line, which, however, ought to be placed upon, or 

 very little above, the bottom of the stream. When this 

 kind of line is employed, its hooks are more frequently 

 baited with mussels than with cray-fish, the latter being, 

 perhaps, not so easily procured there as farther down the 

 stream. Great numbers of Perches are also caught in 

 seines, especially during a transient rise of the water. Few 

 persons fish for them with the pole, as they generally 

 prefer following the edges of the sand-bars, next to deep 

 water. Like all others of its tribe, the White Perch is fond 

 of depositing its spawn on gravelly or sandy beds, but 





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