PRACTICAL LESSONS IN THE GENTLE CRAFT. 447 



not, possibly, have seen roach fishermen at work on the 

 Lea, something about the manner in which they set to work. 

 In the first place, I think it might be well to consider the 

 rod, which is usually one of 18 feet in length, built of the 

 very best white Carolina or West Indian cane. The best rods 

 are invariably made as free as possible from burrs and knots, 

 the cane being specially picked for their manufacture. Stiff- 

 ness and pliability throughout their entire length is one 

 great thing which is always looked to, and yet they have 

 an immense amount of give and take in the very fine, yet 

 short, top joint, and the immediate connecting joint. That 

 is a very essential qualification in a rod devoted to the 

 special branch of angling with which I am dealing. 

 Previously, I think, to the famous match between Woodard, 

 the champion of London, and Bailey, an equally great 

 fisherman on the Trent, there was no such thing as real 

 thorough roach rods made at any time, or at any rate rods 

 made especially for roach-fishing, and specially with regard 

 to the habits of the fish. They were simply bamboo bottom 

 rods, and not half so much attention was given to their manu- 

 facture. But upon the occasion of this famous match, which 

 excited an immense amount of interest at the time, a great 

 impetus was given to that particular branch of the craft, 

 and for months and months nothing else was talked about 

 in London angling circles but roach-fishing and fishermen. 

 Directly following this leading affair, match followed match 

 amongst lesser luminaries of the angling world, and presently 

 a maker named Sowerbutts, of Commercial Street, brought out 

 a first class rod for roach-fishing, and he it was perhaps who 

 gained an enormous reputation as being the first man who 

 made roach rods in their present excellent form and finish. 

 There is no doubt he studied the particular play and style 

 of rod necessary for this kind of fishing. Then he was 



