The Fifth Day 181 



and the Salmon in the like time, if he gets into the 

 sea, and after into fresh water. 



Roaches be accounted much better in the river 

 than in a pond, though ponds usually breed the 

 biggest. But there is a kind of bastard small 

 Roach, that breeds in ponds, with a very forked tail, 

 and of a very small size ; which some say is bred 

 by the Bream and right Roach ; and some ponds 

 are stored with these beyond belief; and knowing- 

 men, that know their difference, call them Ruds : 

 they differ from the true Roach, as much as a 

 Herring from a Pilchard. And these bastard 

 breed of Roach are now scattered in many rivers : 

 but I think not in the Thames, which I believe 

 affords the largest and fattest in this nation, 

 especially below London Bridge. The Roach is a 

 leather-mouthed fish, and has a kind of saw-like 

 teeth in his throat. And lastly, let me tell you, 

 the Roach makes an angler excellent sport, especi- 

 ally the great Roaches about London, where I 

 think there be the best Roach-anglers. And I 

 think the best Trout-anglers be in Derbyshire ; for 

 the waters there are clear to an extremity. 



Next, let me tell you, you shall fish for this 

 Roach in Winter, with paste or gentles ; in April, 

 with worms or cadis ; in the very hot months, with 

 little white snails ; or with flies under water, for he 

 seldom takes them at the top, though the Dace 

 will. In many of the hot months, Roaches may 

 also be caught thus: take a May-fly, or ant-fly, 

 sink him with a little lead to the bottom, near to 

 the piles or posts of a bridge, or near to any posts 

 of a weir, I mean any deep place where Roaches lie 

 quietly, and then pull your fly up very leisurely, and 

 usually a Roach will follow your bait up to the very 

 top of the water, and gaze on it there, and run at it, 

 and take it, lest the fly should fly away from him. 



