198 WHITE PERCH AND ITS FAVOURITE BAIT. 



the suffering creature, while all its legs are left at liberty to move. Now, 

 each man, holding his line a yard or so from the hooks, whirls it several 

 times overhead, and 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 it is nearly in the line of the 

 water. Before this, however, I see 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 labour for thee to 

 flounce and splash in that manner, for no pity will be shewn 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 silvery beneath, so deeply coloured 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 pre- 

 pare 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 far- 

 ther 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 rarely at a 

 depth of less than four or five feet. These beds are round, and have an 

 elevated margin formed of the sand removed from their centre, which is 

 scooped out for two or three inches. The fish, although it generally re- 

 mains for some days over its treasure, is by no means so careful of it as 

 the little sunny, but starts off at the least appearance of danger. I have 

 more than once taken considerable pleasure in floating over their beds, 

 when the water was sufficiently clear to admit of my seeing both the fish 



