THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 193 



or other obstructions. The ripple is of great assistance to 

 the angler in successfully presenting his fly, as it prevents 

 the fish from seeing him as plainly as they would do in 

 calm water. Every advantage should be taken of a ripple 

 to fish a pool, in which large fish generally lie, as they 

 cannot be approached when the surface is calm. Fish after 

 fish may be taken from a pool, if ruffled, without much 

 change of ground. When the wind is blowing fitfully, and 

 only occasionally throwing a ripple, do not cast when the 

 surface of the water is smooth. 



Roach, The (Cyprinus rutilus), is a handsome fish, 

 inhabiting many of our deep still rivers, ponds, or lakes, 

 is easily domesticated, and multiplies very fast. A few 

 roach put into a pond will soon produce as many as the 

 water is capable of sustaining. Roach are of slow growth. 

 They are a gregarious fish, swimming in shoals. The 



THE ROACH. 



fins are red, the mouth like leather, no teeth, circle of the 

 eye golden, scales regular, large, and easily detached. It is 

 not much esteemed for the table on account of the multitude 

 of bones which it contains. It gives fair sport to the angler, 

 spawns about the end of May or beginning of June, and 

 has been known to attain a weight of over three pounds 



M 



