446 PRACTICAL LESSONS IN THE GENTLE CRAFT. 



ingly as upon an introduction to a strange development of 

 human nature. Later on, this latter section of the holiday 

 throng will be found tea-drinking in shady Broxbourne ar- 

 bours, or watching the fisherman with a curiously developed 

 interest as he plys his delicate tackle. Look round carefully 

 through the ranks of thronging piscators, and any one may 

 see for himself that they are all anglers of one stamp. It is 

 curiously strange, but none the less strange than true, that 

 nine out of every ten of the anglers of London are all 

 wedded to the pursuit of roach fishing. Every man there 

 has a long i8-ft rod in its jean case, and with this is tied up 

 the handle of his landing net. His rod is invariably slung 

 across his shoulder, and dependent from the butt, and 

 resting on his broad back is the well-known basket or box 

 seat without which the true roach fisher never sets out. 



It may perhaps be well at this point to consider why it 

 is that the modern rodster is apparently attached so much 

 to this particular branch of the sport. The answer is, that 

 it is at once the prettiest and most skilful branch of 

 angling in the world, as well as that which is most easily 

 attainable ; and to see such men at work on the Lea as 

 Hackett, Bates, Da Costa, or my old friend Tom Hughes, 

 whose show of fish at this exhibition is second to none, 

 in their particular style, or Theaker or Bailey upon the 

 Trent, is to see one branch at least of the true poetry and 

 craft of angling. 



It will be impossible within the limits of time at my 

 command to enter fully into all the mysterious ramifications 

 attaching to many branches of the silent craft. One or 

 two of them however I must touch upon, and knowing that 

 roach-fishing is the most popular of all branches, I venture 

 to deal with that first. 



Now at the outset I may tell you, gentlemen, who may 



