The Bass Family 113 



bait, a sinker or float need not be used. In tidal 

 waters a sinker is necessary to keep the bait at 

 mid-water, or a few feet from the bottom, espe- 

 cially when shrimp, crab, or earthworms are used 

 for bait. The weight of the sinker must be 

 adapted to the strength of the tide. The best 

 season is during late summer or autumn in 

 brackish water, from an anchored boat, at half- 

 flood or half -ebb tide ; up the tidal rivers at 

 high tide. At low water they must be looked 

 for in the deep holes, among the rocks. Wher- 

 ever found the white-perch will not disappoint 

 the angler, but is ever ready to respond to his 

 baited hook. 



It rises pretty well to the artificial fly, especially 

 when landlocked in ponds, or far up the streams. 

 Trout tackle and trout flies are just right, on 

 hooks Nos. 7 or 8; and as the most favorable 

 time for fishing is toward dusk, light-colored flies 

 are the best, as coachman, gray drake, red ibis, 

 oriole, etc. 



I was once fishing for white-perch on Gun- 

 powder River, in Maryland, with a companion 

 who happened to lose one of his hooks through 

 a defective snell, which, however, he soon recov- 

 ered by catching the perch that had stolen it. 



