148 IN THE GREEN LEAF 



secret of the pleasure of fishing one is brought 

 face to face with nature. 



Of late years roach-fishing, or " reaching," 

 as it is called, has become almost a fine art. 

 Some, indeed, fish for nothing else. In old 

 works on fish and fishing, the roach is called 

 the " water sheep " ; but all I can say about 

 this matter is, that if the roach was ever of 

 a simple nature, he must have succeeded very 

 well in changing his character, and, if I might 

 venture an opinion, I should suggest that the 

 name of " water sheep " arose in the first place 

 from the well-known gregarious habits of this 

 handsome fish. 



Old works on angling are like old herbals, 

 full of fearful secrets. I have in my possession 

 recipes of nostrums for catching fish, dating 

 from the last part of the seventeenth century 

 to the end of the eighteenth century, and also 

 some belonging to the early part of the 

 present one, which for nastiness might be 

 safely ranked amongst the abominations of 

 old Egypt. 



Well-scoured gentles, prepared wasps, grubs 

 from the comb, and simple white paste, made 

 with very clean hands, are the best general 

 baits. Sometimes good roach will play about 



