CHAP. xvii. THE FIFTH DAY. 153 



Some say the Roach is so called from rutilus, which they 

 say signifies red fins. He is a fish of no great reputation for 

 his dainty taste ; and his spawn is accounted much better than 

 any part of him. And you may take notice, that as the carp 

 is accounted the water-fox for his cunning; so the roach is 

 accounted the water-sheep, for his simplicity or foolishness. It 

 is noted, that the roach and dace recover strength, and grow in 

 season, a fortnight after spawning ; the barbel and chub in a 

 month : the trout in four months ; and the salmon in the like 

 time, if he gets into the sea, and after into fresh water. 



Roaches be accounted much better in the river than in a 

 pond, though ponds usually breed the biggest. But there is a 

 kind of bastard small roach, that breeds in ponds, with a very 

 forked tail, and of a very small size ; which some say is bred by 

 the bream and right roach; and some ponds are stored with 

 these beyond belief; and knowing-men, that know their differ- 

 ence, call them ruds ; they differ from the true roach as much 

 as a herring from a pilchard. And these bastard breed of 

 roach are now scattered in many rivers ; but I think n,ot-in the 

 Thames, which I believe afford the largest affd fattest in this 

 nation^ especially below London Bridge. The roach is a 

 leather-mouthed fish, and has a kind of saw-like teeth in his 

 throafr~~~And lastly, let me tell you the roach makes an angler 

 capital sport, especially the great roaches about London, where 

 I think there be the best roach anglers. And I think the best 

 trout anglers be in Derbyshire : for the waters there are clear 

 " 



Next, let me tell you you shall fish for this ROACH in winter 

 with paste or gentles ; in April, with worms or cadis ; in the very 

 hot months with little white snails, or with flies under water, for 

 he seldom takes them at the top, though the dace will. In 

 many of the hot months roaches may also be caught thus ; 

 take a May-fly or ant-fly, sink him with a little lead to the 

 bottom, near to the piles or posts of a bridge, or near to any 

 posts of a weir, I mean any deep place where roaches lie 

 quietly, and then pull your fly up very leisurely, and usually a 

 roach will follow your bait to the very top of the water, and 



