ON ANGLING. 57 



a good size. I have caught them upwards 

 of" a pound. Use a rod not exceeding six 

 feet, a line something shorter, of six hairs, 

 and about two feet of silkworm gut for the 

 bottom links, a swan quill float, and small 

 hooks, about No. 11 or 12, though they 

 should be stronger wire than those usually 

 sold of these sizes. Roach seldom break 

 the hook in the water, yet they frequently 

 break the beard when pulled out, by spring- 

 ing about, their mouths being very bony. 

 The baits for roach and dace are very nu- 

 tnerous ; the best are gentles, red paste and 

 boiled wheat and malt ; the gentles of a pale 

 red colour, used with a white one, are often 

 taken by roach and dace, in preference to 

 any other bait ; gentles are not so good after 

 sheep-washing time. Red paste is an ex- 

 cellent bait; but it will be prudent to take 

 more than one kind of bait, roach ajnd daec 

 are very capricious, and in the course of a 

 morning or evening, will shun the bait they 

 had taken just before, and after a short time, 

 return to it again with great avidity, reject- 



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