268 PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



for this purpose a gaudy red fly dressed on a No. 9 or No. 10 

 hook or a spinning minnow is the most effective bait. The fly 

 may be either trailed or cast. The former plan offering the 

 best chance until the shoal is discovered and the latter after- 

 wards. 



The time for fly-fishing for perch is in bright hot weather 

 and a dead calm, when all other fishing is at a standstill. In this 

 way fly-fishing or spinning for perch may often come in very 

 opportunely on an otherwise blank day, the weather suitable 

 for perch being, as a rule, totally impracticable for either salmon 

 or trout. 



Pri7icipal characteristics of the Perch. — The whole length of 

 the fish, — ^head, body, and tail-fin — being considered as one, the 

 length of ihe head alone, to the point of the gill-cover, is about 3 J : 

 depth of body at the deepest point as nearly as possible equal to 

 length of head ; nape of neck, and shoulder, rising very abruptly, 

 giving a general appearance of the fish being rather ' hog-backed : ' 

 belly-line less convex. Fleshy portion of tail very slender. Tail-fin 

 rather small. Two back-fins, the first supported by strong pointed 

 bony rays fourteen in number ; the second back-fin having sixteen 

 soft rays, and commencing very nearly over the anal-fin : the com- 

 mencement of the first dorsal, pectoral, and ventral fins, very 

 nearly in a line, slanting slightly backwards towards the belly ; 

 and the pectoral-fin commencing a very little more forward than 

 the point of gill-cover. Colour : muzzle dark brownish green ; 

 irides, cheeks, and gill-covers, a greenish bronze ; pectoral-fins 

 nearly yellow of a lightish tint j pectoral anal and tail fins, brilliant 

 scarlet ; second back-fin greenish, with a slight tint of scarlet or 

 orange. Back dark olive green, becoming nearly brown in large 

 specimens ; sides golden yellow marked with dark transverse bars 

 of a greenish colour : belly from muzzle to tail quite white. Scales 

 in lateral line about sixty-six. Lateral line convex. 



