58 ROACH, RUDD AND DACE. 



them as before described, and pound them in a mortar, mixing 

 afterwards with house-sand and a little bran. Throw into 

 the water in small quantities occasionally whilst angling. If 

 pith and brains connot be procured, bait with the whitest 

 greaves^ or paste, made of bread, old cheese and honey. 



CHAPTER X. 



EOACH, RUDD AND DACE. 



[HE Roach is, in appearance, a handsome fish when in 

 season, though, perhaps, one of the coarsest of the finny 

 tribe as far as eating is concerned. It affords good 

 sport, and requires some amount of skill to catch ; al- 

 though by some writers it is termed the "water sheep" and 

 easily to be taken : but in reality it requires a quick eye, fine 

 tackle, and a steady hand, and much practice, before anyone 

 can pretend to be a good Roach Angler. 



Roach spawn in April and May, during which time the 

 scales are very rough, the fish being sickly and keeping among 

 the weeds, on which they feed, as well as on the insects found 

 thereon. They are in good season from July till March, but 

 the winter months are generally the best for angling for them, 

 especially after a flood when the water is recovering; the 

 larger ones have then left the weeds and remain in the deep 

 water, and not having so much living food about them will 

 more readily take the bait. Their scales are then very smooth 

 and large, of a dark bluish green color on the back, lightening 

 into a bright silver nearer the belly ; the under fins are a bright 

 red ; the back fin and tail of a dusky red, tinged somewhat 

 with pun-pie. They are seldom taken heavier than two pounds 



