ROACH, BUDD AND DACE. 59 



though I have taken them in the Thames weighing two 

 pounds and a half; and have known them to reach three 

 pounds, but these leviathans are very scarce. 



One great desideratum in Roach-fishing is that the angler 

 should know something of the water that he intends to fish ; 

 and then to choose a swim where he can fish with comfort, 

 according to the state in which the water may be at the time. 

 Roach do not approve of very rough water, but are more 

 generally found in steady swims of a moderate depth and 

 with a sandy or gravelly bottom. When angling in rivers 

 choose if possible, a swim that is rather shallower at the end, 

 because when the ground-bait separates, the principal portion 

 lodges there and consequently keeps the fish together in a 

 better manner than it would do if the swim was not so con- 

 veniently adapted to retain it, but allowed it to be entirely 

 washed away by the action of the stream. It is also by the 

 judicious use of ground-bait, and fishing at the proper depth, 

 that one angler will be more successful than another, who 

 may be using the same description of bait, the same quality 

 of tackle, and fishing at a very short distance from the first 

 one, though not with the like success. One of the most clean 

 and simple ground-baits and at the same time one with which 

 I have had the best sport, is made of bread and bran ; the 

 crust of a quartern loaf being cut off, soak the crumb in 

 water till it is well saturated, squeeze it nearly dry, then 

 placing it in a pan or similar receptacle, add the bran by 

 handfuls, kneading it well together until the whole is almost 

 as stiff as clay. This requires some little time to make but 

 will amply repay the angler for his trouble. In rivers Mke 

 the Thames, when fishing from a punt, the ground-bait shoiold 

 be worked into balls about the size of a moderately large 

 turnip, and it there is much stream will probably require 

 some clay mixed with it to increase the weight and bind it 

 together ; or the insertion of a stone is sometimes requisite, 

 so as to ensure it sinking instantly at the head of the swim 

 when dropped over the side of the punt. In ponds and small 

 rivers the ground-bait balls should be used smaller. An 

 excellent addition to this description of ground-bait (although 

 many object on account of the scent) is a quantity of carrion 



