364 PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



They are frequently navigated by only one man, and although the 

 watermen are invariably skilful, and considerate towards fisher- 

 men, yet it is requisite for them to have the fairway kept open. 

 They cannot turn and twist their craft about, but must keep 

 their course ; and it is incumbent upon anglers to keep out of 

 their way. This is very easily done. The golden rule is never 

 to moor off a ' scant ' point. A wherry must, with a head wind, 

 go as close hauled as she can ; and if she is turning into a reach 

 which is a head one, or ' scant ' for her, she will go as close as she 

 is able to the corner or point, so as to shoot as far as possible 

 into the scant reach without tacking. Yet it constantly happens 

 that just off that point a boat is moored. Avoid the points and 

 you will neither hamper the wherries nor run any risk yourself. 



The mocring-poles go very readily into the mud, but are 

 very difficult to draw out again, the ' putty ' being extremely 

 tenacious. Therefore, do not send them in too vigorously. 

 When well moored, the next thing is to plumb the depth, which 

 is done very carefully in the usual manner. An apron is spread 

 over the knees, a towel or cloth is at hand to wipe off the fishy 

 slime from your fingers, and, rod and tackle being ready, the 

 business begins. As the water is deep the swims are short and 

 the cast frequent. There are usually two anglers in a boat 

 sometimes three and they therefore have to cast in unison, or 

 lines would get entangled. 



If your pursuit be chiefly after roach, then the following 

 local observations will be of use : 



As to choice of locality but little trustworthy data can be 

 given. No precise rule, or at all events no discoverable rule, 

 governs the movements of the roach at different periods of the 

 year. Generally speaking, it may be said that during the summer 

 they are found throughout the entire length of the rivers where 

 the water is fairly fresh and not too brackish ; but the finest 

 fish and the greatest number are found between Coldham Hall 

 and Cantley on the Yarc, where the water is slightly brackish. 

 Large numbers arc also found in the dyke leading from Oulton 

 Broad to the Waveney. In the cold weather they retire to the 



