148 THE ANGLER-NATUKALIST. 



In the nature of its food, the Roach resembles the Dace, 

 feeding, however, principally at night, and by day swim- 

 ming about in large shoals near the bottom. The best 

 general bait is the gentle *; but pastes of various kinds, 

 worms, and prepared greaves j- are sometimes equally kill- 

 ing, though the first is better adapted for stagnant than 

 running waters, where it is liable to be frequently washed 

 off the hook. Boiled wheat, brewers' grains, and most of 

 the ground-baits recommended for Carp and Bream will 

 be found successful in Roach-fishing. The tackle ought to 

 be of the finest ; and the bait should swim at the bottom in 

 rivers, and at from six inches to two feet from the ground, 

 according to the depth, in ponds. 



Roach will not unfrequently take the artificial fly, espe- 

 cially when first scouring themselves after spawning ; and 

 during the last few years I have caught some very fine 

 specimens when dapping for Chub with the imitation 

 grasshopper. A ludicrous incident in connexion with the 

 fly-catching propensities of the Roach is mentioned in a 

 recent work on Angling: A gentleman passing by the 

 Round pond on Clapham Common, observed these fish 

 rising freely at the swarms of hovering ephemeras ; and 

 wishing to try whether they would not be equally suscep- 

 tible to the artificial insect, sent back for a fly-rod, &c., and 

 a small fly. The Roach, however, in this instance refused 

 to be enticed; but a fine Newfoundland dog which was 



* To keep gentles in the winter months, let them be put in a bottle 

 full of earth, corked up, and placed in a cool situation, f See p. 154. 



