ROACH AND RUDD. 4] 
he lives in contentment with the trout and rudd. 
In our trout-stream proper (whence we are 
trying to rid him) he seems particularly happy, 
only he steers clear of the rushing water, and 
quietly allows himself to drop down to where 
the water is “logged.” In addition to these 
situations, he may frequently be found in ponds, 
reservoirs, and even in river estuaries only a few 
miles above the sea. The regular haunts of the 
roach, however, are sluggish rivers; and the 
stiller reaches of the Thames produce some mag- 
nificent fish. London roach-anglers are said to 
excel all others, and it is even asserted that they 
have reduced the patient trade to a fine art— 
how fine only the initiated know. Roach spawn 
in May and June, and in the Thames shoals of 
them may be seen making their way to the 
higher reaches, in search of suitable water- 
weed. Upon this the spawn is deposited, and 
so engrossed do they become in the act that 
their dorsal fins often show above the surface. 
The reproductive powers of the roach are enor- 
mous, and a matured fish may deposit as many 
as 480,000 eggs. When spawning is over the 
shoals drop down to the pebbly bottoms to 
scour themselves, and are in good condition in 
a remarkably short time after returning to the 
deeps. They will then rise to the fly like trout, 
