so THE angler's guide. 



then keep among and feed on weeds. Towards the 

 latter end of July they begin to improve in health, 

 and will more freely take a bait ; but they will do 

 so much better some weeks later in the season, after 

 leaving the weeds on which they have fed (which 

 begin to turn sour in September), and getting into 

 deep water. Roach seldom exceed two pounds in 

 weight, though I have known some taken weighing 

 more than three pounds, but such heavy Roach are 

 not often met with. In the East and West-India 

 Docks, at Blackwall, Roach and Dace thrive well, 

 and are of a superior size, flavour, and fatness, which 

 I consider principally to arise from their feeding on 

 Shrimps ; with which bait, when I have been fishing 

 for Perch, I have taken many heavy Roach and 

 Dace.- — Note, when large Roach are scored across the 

 sides, and broiled with the scales on, they are con- 

 sidered by many as a well-flavoured Fish, especially 

 in the Autumn and Winter seasons. 



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