ROACH AND RUDD. 47 



he lives in contentment with the trout and rudd. 

 In our trout-stream proper (whence we are 

 trying to rid him) he seems particularly happy, 

 only he steers clear of the rushing water, and 

 quietly allows himself to drop down to where 

 the water is "logged." In addition to these 

 situations, he may frequently be found in ponds, 

 reservoirs, and even in river estuaries only a few 

 miles above the sea. The regular haunts of the 

 roach, however, are sluggish rivers ; and the 

 stiller reaches of the Thames produce some mag- 

 nificent fish. London roach-anglers are said to 

 excel all others, and it is even asserted that they 

 have reduced the patient trade to a fine art 

 how fine only the initiated know. Roach spawn 

 in May and June, and in the Thames shoals of 

 them may be seen making their way to the 

 higher reaches, in search of suitable water- 

 weed. Upon this the spawn is deposited, and 

 so engrossed do they become in the act that 

 their dorsal fins often show above the surface. 

 The reproductive powers of the roach are enor- 

 mous, and a matured fish may deposit as many 

 as 480,000 eggs. When spawning is over the 

 shoals drop down to the pebbly bottoms to 

 scour themselves, and are in good condition in 

 a remarkably short time after returning to the 

 deeps. They will then rise to the fly like trout, 



