ROACH. 6? 



or brownish on the upper parts>; the fins are red 

 and the tail slightly forked. The flesh, which 

 is white and well-tasted, is not held in any 

 great repute. 



The haunts of Roach, during spring, are on 

 the shallows and scowers, in summer among 

 weeds, and in winter in deep holes and eddies. 

 It spawns about the middle of May, and breeds 

 abundantly. The principal season for them is at 

 Michaelmas, and they continue good all winter. 



In summer the Roach bites best from sun-rise 

 till nine o'clock in the morning, and from four 

 in the evening till dark ; in winter during the 

 middle of the day. It will readily take small 

 red worms, brandlings, maggots, wasp-grubs, 

 and paste made of crumbs of white bread slight- 

 ly soaked in water, with a little vermillion added 

 to make it of a salmon colour ; or the crumb of 

 new bread without soaking ; paste is certainly 

 the most killing bait for large Roach ; to bait 

 with it, put a piece on the hook about the size 

 of a large pea, and before you begin to angle, 

 plumb the depth, and permit the bait to float 

 near the bottom, but not so as to touch it, other- 

 wise it will wash off the hook. When angling 

 with worms or maggots the bait should lie two 

 or three inches on the bottom. If fishing for 

 Roach in a still hole, or a gentle stream, the best 

 ground bait is chewed bread, or bread and bran 

 F 



