THE ROACH. 149 



reached from town. I paid many a visit to Heacham 

 before I heard of any fresh-water fishing inNor- 

 in the neighbourhood, though I made ^°^^ 

 frequent inquiries. One day, in reply to an 

 inquiry, I was told there was roach-fishing at 

 Holme, about five miles away. Holme-next-the- 

 Sea lies beyond Hunstanton, and the fishing is 

 down in the marshes, close to the sea beach. It 

 would be hard to imagine a more desolate spot, or 

 to find more bracing air. It may be useful to 

 anglers who visit Hunstanton to know about 

 Holme, so I mention the locality for their benefit ; 

 and when I say I have caught more roach there in 

 a day than I cared to carry, they may consider the 

 water is worth a trial, though the fishing is very 

 uncertain. The stream is both narrow and shallow, 

 and the roach are occasionally hard to find ; I once 

 returned with only a single roach in my basket, but 

 this was on a most unfavourable day. In this 

 water, I have found red worms and lobworms kill 

 well ; and as it is necessary to make very long 

 throws to get sport, light Nottingham tackle should 

 be employed. I have had a very mixed bag during 

 a day's fishing ; taking roach, eels, plaice, and 

 flounders, a trout, a perch, and two small jack, all 

 with the red worm for bait. The flounders and 

 plaice get into the water through the tidal gate in 

 the sea beach. It is some time since I fished the 

 Holme water ; the charge for fishing was only is. 

 per day, and the old fellow who looked after the 

 water was only too glad to see his customers get 

 fish. I lately heard from Mr. Bond, proprietor of 

 the White Horse Hotel, Holme-next-the-Sea, that 

 the fishing is still to be had. I think his charges 

 were about 7s. per day for board. The hotel is 



