PEARCH FISHING. 291 



Hopatkong, in Sussex County, New Jersey, Seneca Lake, and the 

 Northern lakes, Huron more especially, contain these fish of the 

 largest size, and in the greatest perfection, but every where they may 

 be caught almost at any time. 



In pond-fishing, the common ground-worm, on a shotted line with a 

 quill-float, is perhaps the commonest bait ; in America pastes are but 

 little used as bait, nor in truth have I any great faith in them, although 

 they are recommended by many good anglers. Of late years, how- 

 ever, I think they have lost repute. In the days of old Isaac they 

 were esteemed almost sovereign. 



" The Minnow, Shiner, or small Trout is, in this country, by all odds, 

 the most taking bait. It should be affixed to the line by one or two 

 small hooks, either through the lip or under the dorsal fin as lightly 

 as possible, and being sunk with a shotted gut to within a foot or so 

 of the bottom, should be allowed to swim about at his own will. 



I do not approve of the frog for Pearch fishing, although when in 

 the humor they will take this, or indeed almost any fish or reptile 

 bait. The following is Hofland's advice as to the mode of fishing for 

 him ; and although the English and American species are distinct, 

 their habits are identical, and the rules laid down below cannot be 

 improved upon. 



The general rod will do well for taking Pearch, but a heavy one is 

 not required. A reel and silk or grass-line with a gut bottom, or 

 gimp, if Pike haunt the same waters, as is apt to be the case, will 

 produee the desired effect. 



The same tackle* and mode of fishing will capture, at times, the 

 Pickerel, the Pike Pearch, the Rock Bass, and even the Trout, and 

 it is therefore well, in Pearch fishing, always to be provided with the 

 tackle necessary to secure larger fish than those which you actually 

 expect to take, and to be prepared and on the look-out that you be 

 not surprised unawares. 



" The Pearch loves to lie by the side of the stream, and under 

 deep banks, or near beds of the water-lily, the eddies at mill-tails, 

 and tumbling bays, near the old piles of wooden bridges, or old kemp 

 sheeting ; the best baits for a Perch are, the Minnow, the Gudgeon, 

 the red worm, and the Brandling. 



" A Minnow may be used by fixing a No 9 hook under the back 



