BOTTOM FISHING. 51 



For live bait fishing for pike the dace is valued, and 

 justly so. 



THE ROACH* (Genus rutilus) is rightly awarded no 

 mean position in angling literature. This cannot be 

 said to be on account of its weight and size, or its 

 edible qualities, but purely because of the skill re- 

 quisite for its capture. The early authors we know 

 write differently, and their statements may then have 

 been justified by their comparatively unsophisticated 

 fish, and are still in the case of under-fed pond fish. 

 With river roach, however, the case is widely different ; 

 to bag a decent take, the rodster must be a practical hand 

 of no mean attainments and experience. This branch of 

 angling is so popular in these days that upon all the most 

 noted rivers these fish are marvellously well schooled, so 

 much so upon certain waters as to rival in wiliness the 

 trout upon some streams ; but the accomplished roach 

 fisher will make a respectable bag, even in adverse circum- 

 stances, always supposing the fish are there to catch. 

 With regard to the suitable equipage, the rod demands 

 the first attention. This should be stiff, light, and of 

 fair length. Some anglers use implements of prodigious 

 dimensions. We recommend an East India cane, of ten 

 or twelve feet, as being well adapted for every useful pur- 

 pose. Some capital roach rods are made from lancewood, 

 red deal being employed for the butt-piece. When good 

 material is employed, a rod of the following dimensions 

 for a three-part rod will combine lightness with strength. 

 The diameter of the ferrules at the top of the butt joint 



* The roach of our rivers will take the fly, if small and bright in color. 

 Few of them, however, are caught by this method of fishing. On the 

 Delaware River from the piers in the lower part of the city of Phila- 

 delphia, large quantities are sometimes caught through the ice by the 

 use of light rods, small hooks, and dough bait. They are small in size, 

 seldom exceeding seven inches in length, but their shyness is equal to 

 the English fish. 



