328 Felonious Rats. 



When thus spawning the roach are preyed on by 

 rats not the water rat, but the house or drain rat. 

 There are always a few of these about the lake, and 

 they grow to an enormous size. They destroy the 

 roach in great numbers. I have seen the sand strewn 

 with dead fish opposite and leading up to their holes ; 

 for they catch and kill many more than they can eat, 

 or even have time to carry away. I have shot at 

 these great rascals when they have been swimming 

 fifty yards from shore, and I strong!}' suspect them 

 of visiting the nests of moor-hens and other waterfowl 

 with felonious purposes. They catch fish at any time 

 they see a chance, but are most destructive during 

 the spawning season, because then the roach come 

 within reach. Such rats, too, haunt the ditches and 

 mounds, and are as dangerous to all kinds of game 

 as any weasel, crow, or hawk. 



Tench lie in the deep muddy holes. With the ex- 

 ception of the tench, the greater number of the fish 

 in this mere haunt the sandy and stony shores. 

 When the lake is full there are broad stretches of 

 water which are shallow and where the bottom is 

 mud. You may look here in vain for fish : of course 

 there are some ; but as you glide over noiselessly in 

 a punt, gazing down into the water as you drift be- 

 fore the gentle summer breeze, you will not see any 

 of those shoals that frequent the other shores where 

 the bottom is clearer. Other favorite places are 

 where the brooks run in and where there are sudden 

 shallows in the midst of deep water. The contour 

 and character of the bottom seem to affect the habits 

 of fish to a large extent; consequently those who 

 are aware of the form of the bottom are usually 

 much more successful as fishermen. 



