THE EOACH. 303 



enjoy himself, come what will or won't. Somehow or 

 other I associate him with a Well-distended figure, red 

 face, spectacles, and a white straw hat in all weathers, 

 with a black clay in his mouth, and a stone bottle of beer 

 in close contiguity to his ground-bait. I was once struck 

 by an eminent roach-fisher answering this description ; 

 and so, whenever I think of a roach-fisher, I invariably 

 think of him. Certainly there are many " Amicable Bro- 

 thers " who approximate more or less closely to my type ; 

 and I believe, without exception, they are happy men, good 

 citizens, loving fathers, affectionate husbands, sincere 

 friends, and clever anglers. 



