CHAPTER XVII 



Of Roach and Dace, and how to Fish for them ; and of Cadis. 



[EN. Good master, as we go now towards London, 

 be still so courteous as to give me more instruc- 

 tions ; for I have several boxes in my memory, in 

 which I will keep them all very safe, there shall 

 not one of them be lost. 



Pise. Well, scholar, that I will, and I will hide 

 nothing from you that I can remember, and can 

 think may help you forward towards a perfection in this art. And 

 because we have so much time, and I have said so little of roach and 

 dace, I will give you some directions concerning them. 



Some say the roach is so called from rutilus^ which they say 

 signifies red fins. He is a fish of no great reputation for his dainty 

 taste ; and his spawn is accounted much better than any other part 

 of him. And you may take notice, that as the carp is accounted 

 the water-fox, for his cunning ; so the roach is accounted the water- 

 sheep, for his simplicity or foolishness. It is noted, that the roach 

 and dace recover strength, and grow in season, in a fortnight after 

 spawning ; the barbel and chub in a month ; the trout in four 



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