936 



for roach, though the prudent sportsman will never be 

 without one, when to be had, you should have a line 

 expressly for such purposes, about ten or twelve feet in 

 length, according to your rod j which I always consider 

 to be such as suits the general run of fishing, and will in 

 all probability measure fourteen feet. Such a line should 

 be taper, becoming full four times as thick at the top, as 

 it is at the lowest link of hairs. 



The experienced angler well knows the great powers 

 of such a line 5 and that it is far superior to such as are, 

 throughout, uniformly of the same thickness. 



Where the roach are very numerous, and well on the 

 feed, you may take them with a minnow line (provided 

 your centre gut be strong enough), often two, and three 

 at a time -, but you must be quick with your landing net, 

 and not give them time to dash about. 



In the evenings of very sultry weather, when a slight 

 shower has fallen, they will take the common house 

 fly, either on the surface, or at some depth -, on the 

 whole, I think that, next to the salmon's roe, you will 

 have best success with gentles, cadbates, and blood- 

 worms. But above all things, have fine tackle j that is, 

 a small hook, on a well chosen piece of superfine gut. 



* Of the Dace, or Dare, or Dart. 



This is more compact in its make than die roach', 

 indeed in many points, it bears a very strong resemblance 

 to the chub ; its flesh is firmer, and better eating, besides 

 being far less bony. Its mouth is also wider, whence 

 it can take a large bait, of which it is very fond j gene- 

 rally giving a decided bite, and struggling much on bein^ 

 struck, 



Dace 



