50 BOTTOM FISHING. 



of this all-important provision. The wood of the 

 immense majority of rods manufactured, being robbed 

 at its weakest point to accommodate the ferrules, 

 leads to frequent breakages. We deal more fully 

 with this subject elsewhere. Roach are noted for 

 their excessive shyness and quickness of vision, 

 therefore in clear water it is essential to exhibit as 

 little of the rod and person as possible, as in addi- 

 tion to this they are adepts, when they understand 

 the situation, at abstracting neatly the bait from the 

 hook, and leaving the mere skin or frame behind. 



We remember keeping for some years a large 

 roach amongst other fish, in a tank fed by a small 

 rill of spring water. Upon our casting a score of 

 house flies or gentles in a batch, one only having a 

 small hook concealed carefully, Mr. Roach would 

 invariably absorb unhesitatingly all and every insect 

 but the identical specimen containing the hidden 

 hook, nothing of which but the point would be 

 visible, although other and smaller fish would exhibit 

 no such scruples. It is this special caution of the 

 roach that calls into play so much care and tact on 

 the part of the rodster. The line should be of the 

 very finest possible texture* and undressed. Raw 

 silk is the best material for firmness and strength. 

 When angling with fine line, more especially is it 

 requisite to keep proper command over the bait by 



* Two-and-a-half drams silk is used in the construction of a new 

 roach and live bait fishing line lately perfected by us, which retains 

 full strength, whilst reducing the substance by one half. It will sus- 

 tain a dead weight of 9 Ibs. This line is sixteen plait, and is, perhaps, 

 the finest plait line ever manufactured. It is equally appreciated by 

 live bait fishers for Thames trout as by Nottingham float fishers. 



