286 



THE ROACH. 



The Bream is mostly found in rathe] 1 large lakes or in slowly running rivers. Although 

 the flesh of the Bream is not held in any great estimation, being poorly flavored and very full 

 of bones, so that, in spite of the great depth of its body, there is scarcely sufficient flesh to 

 repay the trouble of cooking, still, the fish was formerly in much repute as a delicacy ; so 

 that either the fish seems to have deteriorated, or the present generation to have become more 

 fastidious. Spring and autumn furnish the best Bream, and the flesh can be dried something 

 like that of the cod-fish. 



The color of the Bream is yellowish-white, except the cheeks and gill-covers, which have 

 a silvery lustre without any tinge of yellow. Sometimes the Bream attains a considerable 

 size, reaching a weight of twelve or fourteen pounds. 



LING.— Lota vulgaris. SLY SILUKUS.— SUurus glanis. (One-quarter natural size.) 



The Roach is a fish especially dear to scientific anglers, on account of its capricious 

 habits, and the delicate skill required to form a successful Roach-fisher. 



An angler accomplished in tins art will catch Roach where no one without special experi- 

 ence would have a chance of a bite, and will succeed in his beloved sport through almost every 

 season of the year, the winter months being the favorites. So capricious are these fish, and so 

 sensitive to the least change of weather, that a single hour will suffice to put them oft' their 

 feed, and the angler may lie suddenly checked in the midst of his sport by an adverse breeze 

 or change in the temperature. 



The Roach is a gregarious fish, swimming in shoals, and keeping tolerably close to each 

 other. It is not a large species, all over a pound being considered as fine specimens, and any 

 that weigh more than two pounds are thought rare. It is a pretty fish, the upper parte of the 



