the suffering creature, while all its legs are left at liberty to move. Now,
each man, holding his line a yard or so from the hooks, whirls it several
times overhead, and sends it off to its full length directly across the
stream. No sooner has it reached the gravelly bed, than gently urged
by the current, it rolls over and over, until it is nearly in the line of the
water. Before this, however, I see that several of the men have had a
bite, and that by a short jerk they have hooked the fish. Hand over
hand they haul in their lines. Poor perch, it is useless labour for thee to
flounce and splash in that manner, for no pity will be shewn thee, and
thou shalt be dashed on the sand, and left there to quiver in the agonies
of death. The lines are within a few yards of being in. I see the fish
gasping on its side. Ah ! there are two on this line, both good ; on most
of the others there is one ; but I see some of the lines have been robbed
by some cunning inhabitant of the water. What beautiful fishes these
perches are ! so silvery beneath, so deeply coloured above ! What a fine
eye too ! But, friend, I cannot endure their gaspings. Pray put them
on this short line, and place them in the water beside you, until you prepare
to go home. In a few hours each fisher has obtained as many as he
wishes. He rolls up his line, fastens five or six perches on each side of
his saddle, mounts his horse, and merrily wends his way.
In this manner the White Perch is caught along the sandy banks of
the Ohio, from its mouth to its source. In many parts above Louisville
some fishers prefer using the trot-line, which, however, ought to be placed
upon, or very little above, the bottom of the stream. When this kind of
line is employed, its hooks are more frequently baited with mussels than
with cray-fish, the latter being perhaps not so easily procured there as farther
down the stream. Great numbers of perches are also caught in seines,
especially during a transient rise of the water. Few persons fish for them
with the pole, as they generally prefer following the edges of the sandbars
next to deep water. Like all others of its tribe, the White Perch
is fond of depositing its spawn on gravelly or sandy beds, but rarely at a
depth of less than four or five feet. These beds are round, and have an
elevated margin formed of the sand removed from their centre, which is
scooped out for two or three inches. The fish, although it generally remains
for some days over its treasure, is by no means so careful of it as
the little sunny, but starts off at the least appearance of danger. I have
more than once taken considerable pleasure in floating over their beds,
when the water was sufficiently clear to admit of my seeing both the fish
and its place of deposit; but I observed that if the sun was shining, the
very sight of the boat's shadow drove the perches away. I am of opinion
that most of them return to the sea about the beginning of November;
but of this I am not certain. .
The usual length of this fish, which on the Ohio is called the White
Perch, and in the State of New York the Growler, is from fifteen to twenty
inches. I have, however, seen some considerably larger. The weight
varies from a pound and a half to four, and even six pounds. For the
first six weeks of their arrival in fresh water streams they are in season;
the flesh is then white and firm, and affords excellent eating; but during
the heats of summer, they become poor, and are seldom very good. Now
and then, in the latter days of September, I have eaten some that tasted
as well as in spring. One of the most remarkable habits of this fish is
that from which it has received the name of Growler. When poised in
the water, close to the bottom of a boat, it emits a rough croaking noise,
somewhat resembling a groan. Whenever this sound is heard under a
boat, if the least disturbance is made by knocking on the gunwale or bottom,
it at once ceases; but is renewed when every thing is quiet. It is
seldom heard, however, unless in fine calm weather.
The White Perch bites at the hook with considerable care, and very
frequently takes off the bait without being caught. Indeed, it requires a
good deal of dexterity to hook it, for if this is not done the first time it
touches the bait, you rarely succeed afterwards; and I have seen young
hands at the game, who, in the course of a morning, seldom caught more
than one or two, although they lost perhaps twenty crays. But, now that
I have afforded you some information respecting the habits of the White
Perch, allow me to say a few words on the subject of its favourite bait.
The Cray is certainly not a fish, although usually so styled; but as
every one is acquainted with its form and nature, I shall not inflict on
you any disquisition regarding it. It is a handsome crustaceous animal
certainly, and its whole tribe I consider as dainties of the first order. To
me " Ecrevisses" whether of fresh or of salt water, stripped of their coats,
and blended into a soup or a " gombo,11 have always been most welcome.
Boiled or roasted too, they are excellent in my estimation, and mayhap in
yours. The Crayfish, of which I here more particularly speak—for I
shall not deprive them of their caudal appendage, lest, like a basha without
his tail, they might seem of less consequence—are found most abun