58 ELEMENTS OF ANGLING. 



strong as the natural gut. It can be got in five 

 grades (ix to 5x), and the finest is not too fine for 

 roach fishing in rivers where the fish are at all 

 shy. Its use requires a light hand, and at first the 

 novice is bound to have disasters now and again. 

 But when he has got accustomed to it he will find 

 his catch of fish much improved. Single horsehair, 

 either white, cream-coloured, or chestnut, is also 

 good for roach fishing. Good round hair is about 

 as strong as 5x gut, and is very elastic. I prefer it 

 to gut, as it does not fray with use as gut does, but 

 it is more liable to break for no obvious reason. 

 Whether it catches more fish than the finest gut 

 anglers are not agreed ; it certainly does not catch 

 less. For other fish which grow to a big size, such 

 as chub and bream, the novice may consider he is 

 fishing very fine if he is using 3x gut, but with care 

 and time it is possible to land a 3lb. chub or 4lb. 

 bream on the finest gut of all, or on hair. One 

 must not be in a hurry, and one must not try to 

 force the fish to the net till it has exhausted itself. 



There are a few other baits for roach and bream 

 which the novice will find worth knowing. Wheat 

 stewed slowly till it swells up and cracks down one 

 side is excellent in most rivers ; one grain on the 

 hook is enough for roach, and two or three for 

 bream ; little cubes of bread crust (not too tough) 



