Wichita eagle., 1889-05-12
-zsxsSAgzSa@
9at1m Eagle
FISHING ON THE PIER.

Thousands of People on the Pfers-Super-
stitfons of AngIers-How and What the
Perch ,Bites-ThcnCrab as Bait and Its
Peculisrities-Winter Fishing-Origin Of
the Perch in the Lalses-Bass and Perch
Compared-Eels in Disgrace.
Especial Chicago Correspondence
There are thousands of little piers along
Lake Michigan which were built for break
waters for the protection of the land. What
ever the original intention of the builders,
these piers have been generally monopo-
Lied by fishermen and fsherwomen who
love the perch. The most conspicuous
fishing ground, of course, is the Govern
ment breakwater at Chicago, and On many
a day it presents double broadside OF peo-
pie angling for his perchship. The
outing about the Government pier
is a convenient haunt for this fish.
At either end of it are channels OF
moving water The bottom is sandy and
clean, and the perch loves cleanliness and
pure water. Food for the perch on such
grounds is naturally plentiful, as 1t is ia
vorable fer the minnows and fry of many
species Of fish of which the perch is particu-
larly fond. Sad as it may seem, the perch
makes no distinction, and after leaving its
young fry to their fate, eats them with the
same relish as it does the young of any
other species. The barbarian is not the only
cannibal; the principle is everywhere prev
alent that big FISH eat the little ones. :,
Ii is strange how the stuff and nonsense
pf the fishermen who sell poles and sell
nlinnows on the pier is generally believed
These weather-beaten mariners assure US
that the direction of the wind determines
whether perch will or will not bite. For IN
star &C. If the wind is blowing from the
Bout beast or east we are told that the perch
will not bite. When asked for reason, the
Wall oman replies that either there IS none
or els e he viii say that the perch is an &C.
centri.3 animal, and has chronic objections
to such winds The fact is, the perch have
to eat every day, no natter.where the wind
comes fir ON. II the wind blows from either
of the dl rections mentioned the water IS
rolled on this side of the lake and the perch
goes across or out into the clear water. AS
has been stated, he is a clearly fish and will
not tolerate any thing but pure water. The
direction of the wind therefore only de-
termines whether he wiz bite or not in the
sense that it indicates the condition OF the
water. There were less perch caught last
season than any other for years, and again
the old mariner on the pier put on
a gloomy face and repeated the Worn-out
tale to the effect that the fish had been
caught out by the overplus OF anglers and
had no chance to propagate.
1t is true that comparatively few perch
were caught last summer from the Govern
nent pier This was simply because east
and southeast winds prevailed, driving the
fish into the pure water across the lake. At
st. Joseph perch appeared by the million,
and the market there was glutted with
them.
The perch is not a difficult animal to lure
with the hook His nature is trusting, and
he believes every thing and every body
honest. All of his experiences on this con-
tinent since the advent of the white man
have awaited him nothing. He nibbIes the
hook with the same belief In its virtue as