ROACH-FISHING 131 



cousins the rudd and bream, the results being frequently seen 

 in hybrids. As above mentioned, like all the carps, roach are 

 grievously afflicted with internal parasites. In June, 1902, Mr. 

 Boulenger, on opening the visceral cavity of a roach taken in 

 the Serpentine, found a disproportionately huge inmate in the 

 shape of Ligula simplissima, the larval form of Ligula 

 digramma, a flat band-like worm. The fish measured only 

 five inches long and two and a half deep, while the parasite 

 was seven inches long and half an inch broad. 



Mr. Wheeley, than whom nobody is more competent to 

 pronounce an opinion, declares that roach-fishing is " without 

 ^jjfQj. doubt the most popular branch of coarse fishing."* 

 Roach. Wq had expressed his meaning with greater precision 

 had he said " fishing for coarse fish " instead of *' coarse 

 fishing," because, albeit the roach is numbered among what 

 anglers class as coarse fish, great delicacy is required for success 

 in the art of taking them, at least in such waters where much 

 fishing has made them sly. Experts, it seems, are divided in 

 opinion about the proper rod, some recommending the long 

 or Lea rod, others the short Nottingham or Sheffield rod. 

 The Lea rod, or roach pole, as it is called, is made of light 

 cane, from sixteen to twenty-one feet long, with a single ring 

 at the point, to which the line is made fast. The fisherman 

 follows the float with his rod-point, keeping the line almost 

 tight between the two. Every time he wants to land a fish, 

 or even to bait his hook, he has to unship the butt ; and, 

 although it behoves one who is no roach-fisher to speak with 

 deference of so high a mystery, I feel bound to say that the 

 Nottingham style of fishing and apparatus seem far less likely 

 to cause disappointment. To fish with very fine tackle without 

 a reel and running line is to court disaster of a peculiarly bitter 

 kind ; for although a man may expect nothing more powerful 

 than a roach of a pound weight, who shall warrant him against 

 hooking a lusty perch, or a headstrong barbel? — either of which 

 * Coarse Fish, by C. H. Wheeley, p. 146. 



