iv. Preface. 



the other, so that the youngest and most inexperienced angler 

 can hardly make a mistake. 



If there is a special feature in this small volume, that 

 feature will be found in Chapter V., where I treat a distin- 

 guished member of the Roach family at greater length, from 

 a practical standpoint, than I think it has ever been treated 

 before in a work on bottom-fishing. 



I must also tender my best thanks to the two or three 

 gentlemen, whose names I have mentioned in the following 

 pages, for the great trouble they have taken in answering my 

 queries, and giving my readers and myself the benefit of their 

 valuable advice on certain vexed questions. 



Roach fishing has been for many years a favourite pastime 

 of mine, and I have also had the distinguished advantage 

 of calling " friends " some of the most expert and observant 

 roachers that are to be found in the kingdom, and I thank- 

 fully acknowledge the valuable experience I gamed from the 

 companionship of these friends. 



I should like to repeat what I said in the preface to the 

 volume on " Barbel and Chub Fishing," that the principles 

 I lay down are those of economy, based upon a practical 

 knowledge and experience extending through many years, and 

 under peculiar advantages. I know what it is to have a 

 working-man's pocket, because, brother working-man angler, I 



