CHAPTER IV.

THE PERCH.

THE perch (Perca fluviatilis) has been placed by both Cuvier and Yarrell at the head of the first genus, perca, as shown in the ichthyological chart given in a former chapter, and I therefore commence with it in this part of the work devoted to a consideration of the various fishes of our waters. I am aware that Mr. Pennell, contrary to the general practice of writers on fish and fishing, has also begun in the same way, but I apprehend that no charge of imitation or plagiarism can be brought against me because of that fact. The classification of fishes before given, for which Mr. Pennell is not responsible, places the perch family first, and I therefore thus proceed to consider its members, taking each of the other fishes in their order of succession.

Ichthyologically the perch may be thus described: Gill rays seven; two back fins distinct, separated; rays of the first all spinous, those of the second flexible; length of head as compared to body as 2 to 7; teeth small, uniform in size, curved backwards, situated on both jaws, vomer and bones of palate; fore gill cover notched below, serrated on posterior; edge gill covers bony, ending in a flattened point; scales rough, hard, and not easily detached. Colours (when in good condition) : Upper part of body greenish brown, fading into a yellow white below ; is marked with dark transverse bands; first back fin brown and spotted, second back fin and pectoral fins pale brown; ventral, anal, and tail fins bright vermilion. Useful as this description is, it, however, does not convey an image of the fish to the reader's mind like the following, taken from an old writer : "The pearch is a fish that is hook-backt sometimes like a hog, and armed with stiff gristles, and his sides with dry thick scales." The hues of the perch vary very much from those given, but in clear water, and, as stated, when in good condition, it is sufficiently well described above.

D

Of the percidae family only two are known in British fresh water; one is the subject of the present chapter, and the other, the ruffe or pope (Acernia vulgaris). The percida are, however, distributed over nearly the whole of Europe, as well as the British Isles. The Rhine and the Danube stand pre-eminent amongst Continental rivers for this fish, and Lapland produces it plentifully. The salt water, Dr. Badham notes, contains more interesting specimens of the same family, and some of them in their voracity are even terrible-the sea wolf, for instance; others are terrible only in name-for example, the "sky gazer" of the Mediterranean, who rejoices in the scientific cognomination Uranoscoods hemerocœtus. The Nile also is possessed of a variety of perch which on account of its recalcitrant appearance and fierceness of disposition the alligator even refuses to do honour to by swallowing. The courage of all the percida is acknowledged. The old writer before referred to (whose name I do not know and cannot find out) asserts that our perch has more bravery than the pike, and Mr. Pennell justifies this in an example where a perch vanquished and killed a pike of its own weight with no special difficulty. His valour is also shown when he fights for a dearer stake his life. Says another author: "The perch is a handsome, noble-looking fish, a bold, dashing biter, and a courageous fellow when hooked, never yielding as long as he has any strength remaining, but fighting bravely to the last. In short, he is altogether, when large, one of the best fish for sport which the fresh water contains." The size to which the perch attains is variously stated. In England the limit is probably 6lb. I confess I never saw one over 4lb., but Blakey speaks of some of 6lb., taken from Whittlesea Mere, and "Ephemera" says one was caught in the Serpentine which weighed 91b. One, which is said to have measured 2ft. in length, is mentioned by Izaak Walton as having been caught by a friend. Shäffer says that in the church of Lulea, Lapland, the head of one is preserved which is nearly a foot long, which, according to the ordinary proportions of perch, would belong to fish of 3ft., if not more. Perhaps this relic, however, has been, like the vertebra of the famous Manheim pike, somewhat enlarged by artificial means. Deformed perch are not unknown. Sir John Richardson gives an interesting account of a specimen with distorted tail and very hunch. back, found at Fahlun, in Sweden, and I am informed that perch with congenital deformity are constantly taken from some lakes in Merionethshire. I have myself taken a perch which presented a very singular appearance about the dorsal extremity, having a complete inversion of the tail, with an eccentric twist added. My opinion at the time was that the injury probably originated in the egg, as I have noticed is occasionally the case with trout and salmon.

The idea has gained ground that perch are self concipient. I frankly state that I don't believe it. I have repeatedly met with rugged rough old veterans (males) whose anatomy has completely settled the question, and if the expression "old" may be applied without reprehension to females, I may say the same in reference to them. In September and October, when the swarming begins, it is uncommon to find a male fish amongst the " common herd." These exclusive gentlemen inhabit the deeps at this period, and solemnly enjoy themselves in the more congenial society of barbel, large chub, trout, bream, &c. The possibility is that Ovid is responsible for the idea when he speaks of the "channe" or 66 gaper," a species of Greek perch, thus :

Ex se

Concipiens Channe gemino fraudata parente.

Mr. Manley, in "Notes on Fish and Fishing," states his belief in this anatomically absurd idea. Anyhow, perch manage to multiply with tolerable numerical success. Picot, of Geneva, has estimated

as many as 992,000 eggs in the ovary of a female fish of but 1lb. weight. The female winds the spawn, which is usually deposited in ribands, in and out the weeds, &c., near the shore; this is impregnated by the male, and in the Thames nine-tenths of these eggs are eaten by the swans and other enemies. Otherwise the multiplication of perch would be enormous. The spawning season is variable, sometimes being in April, and occasionally as late as the end of June.

The food is very various, but being a fish of prey, its appetite is invariably carnivorous. Occasionally one is caught with paste, but such occurrences are justly regarded more as mistakes on the part of the fish than the result of instinct. Nothing in the way of live insects, from the crustaceans of the water to the ephemera of the air, comes amiss. The fresh-water shrimp is as acceptable as the larva of the Mayfly, and I have even seen a perch take a Mayfly in its pseudimago state. The chief of its aliment, however, is derived from the small fry of fishes, and its appetite is so unscrupulous and insatiable that have even taken a perch with one of its own species and family, and found the tails of several minnows sticking out of its gullet undigested, in fact, hardly swallowed. Raw butcher's meat comes not amiss, and a prawn is often caviare.

The habitat of Perca fluviatilis is more varied than any other fish of prey. During spring and summer it is to be found chiefly in shallow parts, near weeds, feasting on the parasitic riches of the water vegetation, or seeking some lively minnow or small gudgeon; in autumn it takes the quieter and deeper parts of the river or lake; as winter approaches it

retires even more completely, or assembles in huge shoals, if the weather be frosty, near some quiet nook or patch of decaying vegetation. This information, although strictly true, is capable of great qualification. The angler will find the general habitat thus given vary as does the wind or the weather. Even, however, as one expects cold winds and weather during the winter solstice, and soft southern breezes and sunshine in summer, so may he expect to verify my guarded statements as to the habitat of the perch. Careful observation, however, will teach him more in one day than I could ever do in writing.

The diseases of perch are not many, and are chiefly parasitic. As his Acanthopterygian lordship devours all kinds of insects, and not unfrequently reposes (especially in still water) after a meal in a situation contiguous probably to insect-fostering weeds, this statement is not surprising. A sort of "fluke " buries itself in his gill, and a tapeworm is found in his inside; the embryo of the mussel (Cynea anodens) clings to its fins; and the fish-louse (Argalus foliaceus) resides with seeming pleasure on the well-fed fish. How far any or all of these indicate bad health or cause it I cannot here pretend to say, and I know of no authority on the matter to which I can refer the reader; presumably, however, these parasites do influence the health of perch. Perch seem chiefly to die of that worst of all piscine ailments, too much "hook." I think it is an otherwise long-lived fish. A peculiarity of the fish when hooked is that it can almost invert the maw, ejecting all its contents. This has been made much of by a recent writer; but it is easily explainable. The maw is very large in proportion and elastic, and hence easily protruded and returned.

The perch, unlike most other fishes, is not very rich in folk lore. I say folk lore because it conveys the idea intended of tattle of etymology and legends, superstitions, and old-fashioned misconceptions. Dr. Badham, in his "Fish Tattle," has collected a vast number of these items, but as the work is doubtless beyond the class of readers to which I chiefly appeal, I transcribe some of them for these pages. These kinds of jottings are often very interesting and not unfrequently of considerable volume. The carp, for example, furnishes a quantity of such "tattle;" so does the eel; but the perch, well known and esteemed, being such a frank natured fish, has to a certain extent escaped the "wonderous tales and legends old," in reference to its corporeal and mental qualities, which seem to attend some of its confrères. Praise for its beauty and condemnation for its unsuspecting boldness in biting seem the chief qualities in the mention of it by old writers. Ausonius refers thus to it : Nor let the muse in her award of fame, Illustrious perch, unnoticed pass thy claim, Prince of the prickly cohort."