CHAPTER VII 



THE PERCH 



The perch is a handsome, noble looking fish; a bold, 

 dashing biter, and a courageous fellow when, hooked, 

 never yielding as long as he has any strength remain- 

 ing, but fighting bravely to the last. He is extremely 

 voracious when hungry, and will spring at anything 

 that comes in his way. Indeed, he will often follow a 

 smaller one of his own species when hooked, and make 

 every efiort to devour it. In short, he is altogether, 

 when large, one of the best fish for sport which the 

 fresh waters contain. 



The perch is gregarious, and in the matter of taking 

 bait, remarkably imitative; so that when you have 

 caught one, you should invariably remain some time in 

 the same place, as there is every probability you will 

 ultimately get all there are. This is so commonly 

 understood among anglers, that it is quite a proverbial 

 matter, known to every schoolboy, and invariably acted 

 upon by all the lovers of the gentle craft. 



In March or April, and perhaps in May, according to 

 the season, the perch cast their spawn, so that they 

 should be suffered to remain unmolested at least till 

 July or August. In May and June they are out of 

 condition, are then of a pale lead colour, and most 

 execrable flavour ; very different from the deep, bright 

 hues which make them like bars of gold in the water, 

 and the sweet, firm flesh which distinguishes them in 

 September and October. 



The perch is very prolific. Picot, of Geneva, opened 



