298 



KOTBS ON FISH AND FISHING. 



the family of De la Roche,, which bears "three roach 

 naiant in pale, argent," for its arms. 



The size a roach will attain is easily stated — seldom 

 2 lbs., never 3 lbs. — though I have a record in print of one 

 exceeding the latter weight by loz., and said to have 

 been captured in the Lea in November, 1875, and there- 

 fore those who always believe what they see in print will 

 accept the statement as a fact. I know, also, that Pen- 

 nant records a roach of 5 lbs. ! Some years ago a reward 

 was offered by the Piscatorial Society for a 2 lb. fish, but 

 whether this was limited to Thames roach or not, I cannot 

 remember. That 2 lb. roach exist in many waters, and 

 that many over this weight have been caught during the 

 last year or two, is certain. Some little time back a brace 

 over this weight were exhibited, preserved in a case, in 

 the window of the Field office. I do not know that a 

 Thames roach has been caught scaling over 2 lbs. I cer- 

 tainly never caught one of that weight in my favourite 

 river nor elsewhere, nor have I ever seen one caught ; but 

 I well remember one April, some years ago, when fishing 

 the trout and grayling waters about Wilton, that cart- 

 loads of white fish were netted out of the ISTadder and 

 Wylie, and were lying in Leaps on the banks ; and I can 

 safely say that there were scores of roach among them over 

 this desirable weight. A half-pound roach is a sizeable fish ; 

 a pounder should make the angler's heart rejoice ; and he 

 may consider himself a piscatorial hero for the remainder 

 of the season, or, indeed, for the term of his natural life, 

 when he baskets one of 2 lbs. If he captures one of 3 lbs., 

 he deserves to be put in a glass case as much as the fish. 

 The roach varies considerably in shape,accordingto his size. 

 When about a quarter of a pound, he is not a deep fish ; in 



