338 PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



however, is the most inexpensive. The gentlemen who habi- 

 tually patronise fishing from the Thames punt will probably 

 dissent from this view, and with not a little reason. But I 

 regard them as the luxurious individuals of the tribe who are 

 content to pay for other things than mere fishing. The ordi- 

 nary roach-fisher requires but little tackle, and that of the 

 cheapest character. The rod is the most serious item, though 

 a few shillings will procure a really serviceable implement. 

 Should he use a winch, the simplest form will suffice. Neither 

 check nor multiplier is wanted. His line may be carried in an 

 envelope. The float, shots, footline, and hooks are bought for 

 a few pence. Another point to consider is the small amount 

 of labour involved in roach fishing. A day's conscientious fly- 

 fishing or spinning is downright hard work for strong shoulders. 

 The roach-fisher literally takes it easy, sitting upon his basket, 

 box, or chair, or if needs be upon the bankside, cheered by 

 the thought that if the working of his method becomes mono- 

 tonous in the absence of sport a not unusual experience of 

 the class it at least does not call for heavy active labour. 

 And it may further be mentioned, that the roach-fisher is always 

 animated by hope of a double-barrelled kind hope as to direct 

 success with the particular fish he has in view, and hope as to 

 glorious accidents that may at any moment bring him into 

 combat with trout, perch, chub, barbel, dace, bream, or, now 

 and then, pike. In rivers where all these are to be found it is 

 true our fine art friend as often as not is a victim to his prin- 

 ciples, first of which is a tight line. I have seen a two-pound 

 trout, and a four-pound bream beautifully killed by a tight line 

 and long Carolina cane roach rod, but smashing up is a much 

 more common termination of these unequal struggles. Still, 

 there are such uncertainties to add a charm to roach-fishing, 

 and a very pretty mixed basket sometimes varies the rule of the 

 game. 



The habits of the roach to a large extent determine the 

 methods of its capture, and no man will obtain a degree en- 

 titling him to take brevet rank who is not familiar with them. 



