52 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 



should be 5 / 8 inch inside, that of the end of the middle 

 piece 5 / 16 of an inch, reel fittings and terminating ferrules 

 on the foot of the butt about 1 1 / B or l l / 4 in diameter. This 

 ratio will be found to form a well-proportioned taper 

 from the hand upwards, the wood, of course, tapering so 

 as to fit the ferrules without the metal being sunk in the 

 joints. Incalculable disasters ensue from a non-observ- 

 ance 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 pos- 

 sible, as in addition to this they are adepts, when they 

 understand the situation, at extracting 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 care- 

 fully, 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 retaining little slack line from the tip of 

 the rod downwards. Many advantages ensue from the 

 use of an extra fine line, retaining of course full requisite 

 strength, both in live bait, bottom, and surface fishing. 

 As every angler will admit, the less the surface of the line, 



