78 BOTTOM FISHING IN THE NOTTINGHAM STYLE. 



tioned, and aldermanic roach of our well-fished river are not 

 to be caught by any tyro during August and the following 

 months, for they are amazingly shy of the hook. They seem 

 to me to be highly educated then, and pretty wide-a-wake to 

 the angler's proceedings. A reckless stamping up and down 

 the bank, or a peering over into it, or working a plumb all 

 over it, to see how deep it is, are all fatal to the success of 

 the roach fisher. His motto must be " fine and far off," thus 

 to keep out of sight as much as possible. Then, and then 

 only, with suitable tackle, baits, and a good swim, he may 

 stand a chance of deceiving a few roach. 



The roach is a member of the carp family, and his specific 

 name is Cyprinus Eutilits. When in good condition he is a 

 handsome fish. One writer, paraphrasing Yarrell thus de- 

 scribes him. " The colour of the upper part of the head is 

 dusky greert, with blue reflections, becoming lighter on the 

 sides, and passing into silvery white on the belly, the irides 

 yellow, cheeks and gill covers silvery white ; dorsal and caudal 

 fins pale brown, tinged with red ; pectoral fins orange red ; 

 ventral and anal fins bright red ; the scales are rather large, 

 marked with consecutive and radiating lines ; large eyes, the 

 circles of which are of a gold colour, and the iris red ; their 

 scales are very smooth, except during and just after spawning 

 time, when they feel to the touch like a nutmeg-grater." 

 This seems to me to be a pretty fair description, and any one 

 reading it, who has never seen a roach, would come to the 

 conclusion that he is a very handsome fish. He also has a 

 small head and a leather mouth, with a peculiar top lip. 

 This lip, if you take hold of it, raise it, and bring it forward, 

 shows to you that it has the power of elongation, and that it 

 is shaped something like a hood. This power seems to prove 

 that the fish can take his food on the bottom like a barbel ; or 

 retaining the lip in its ordinary position that he can take a bait 

 in midwater, or on the surface like a dace. I have found, how- 



