THE YELL O W PER CH 
5 
The Saxons, it is said, represented one of their gods standing with 
naked feet on the back of a Perch, as an emblem of constancy in trial and 
patience in adversity. With his bristling array of thorny fin-spines, the 
Perch is a fair type of sturdy independence, a Diogenes of the brooks and 
ponds, well described by Drayton in his “ Poylyolbion 
“ The Perch with prickling fins against the Pike prepar’d 
As nature had thereon bestow’d this stronger guard 
His daintiness to keep.” 
The angler cannot be too careful in unhooking these spike-armed heroes, 
for the armature of the fins inflicts wounds painful and difficult to heal. 
They feed on worms, grubs, insects and even small fishes of their own 
species and are voracious in the extreme. “In feeding,” writes Dr. 
Abbott, “Yellow Perch chase small minnows instead of waiting for a 
single fish to come near enough to seize by a single dart upon it, as the 
Pike does. They are not rapid in their movements, but seem to dart 
with open mouth at several minnows, as though trusting to catch some 
one of the number they pursue.” 
They are pirates, as voracious in proportion to their size as the Black 
Bass and the Pike. 
The claims of this fish to popular favor have been strangely overlooked 
in America, owing perhaps to the fact that anglers, like other men, have 
their specialties, and that most of our writers upon this subject have had 
hobbies other than that of Perch fishing. Surely no inhabitant of our 
brooks and ponds has higher claims on the score of beauty than— 
“The Perch with fins of Tyrian dye.” 
Its graceful movements and beautiful colors, its hardiness and intelli¬ 
gence makes it particularly desirable for aquarium culture. In the 
sunlight the scales reflect delicate hues and golden glints which are 
deliciously tempered by the dusky bands upon the sides and the ruddy 
tones of the quivering fins, which have been well compared to the reds 
sometimes to be seen in the glass of very old church windows. 
Its rank as a game fish is thus estimated by J. P. Wheeldon, angling 
editor of Bell's Life \ “A gloriously handsome fish, the Perch, when in 
condition affords excellent sport, and is a deserved favorite with each and 
every fisherman, be he young or old.” It is mentioned as a favorite in 
the first of all treatises on angling—that printed in Antwerp in 1492,—and 
is eulogized by scores of later European authorities, as well as in the “ Com¬ 
pete Angler:” 
