THE PERCH FAMILY. 93 



recollections of every angler, of the waters that find their way 

 into the Chesapeake and Delaware. 



White Perch hybernate in the deep salt water of our bays, 

 and ascend the fresh tide-rivers soon after the ice and snow- 

 water have run ofi'. They feed greedily on the spawn of other 

 fish, particularly that of the shad ; on insects, grubs, minnows, 

 and on the migratory schools of young eels, which are found 

 in the months of April and May, in great numbers, at any 

 rapid or dam obstructing the upward flow of the tide. Perch 

 usually spawn in May, and then resort to deeper waters to 

 recuperate, and all summer long, are found by the angler, 

 ever swimming around the deep sunken pier, or the timbers 

 of the rickety old bridge, snapping at shrimp, or chasing the 

 minnows on the flood-tide high up amongst the water-lilies ; 

 and never refusing a bait, if of the right sort, and properly 

 presented. 



The first Perch-fishing of the season, is always at the 

 terminus of a tideway, as just mentioned. Through the 

 summer, they are taken on the ebb-tide in deep water, on 

 sandy or rocky bottoms or muscle-beds, or around stone 

 piles or sunken hulks; and on the flood-tide, along the 

 margins of rivers, or creeks, where the long grasses or water- 

 lilies afford a home for the minnows. 



In brackish water, shrimps are decidedly the best bait ; in 

 deep holes, in fresh tide rivers, brandling- worms; on the flood- 

 tide, along the margin of the grass or water-lilies, minnows 

 are good, or a wedge-shaped fish-bait is greedily taken, if the 

 Perch are well on the feed. This last should be cut with the 

 skin adhering, which makes the bait so tough, that six or 

 eight fish may be taken before renewing it. For early 

 fishing, young eels, spawned the preceding autumn, which are 

 beautifully transparent and not larger than a darning-needle, 

 are the most attractive. These, as I have just said, are to be 

 had where the tide is impeded by dam or rapid. Here 



