THE ROACH. 157 



and I fancy the spirit contained in it tends to 

 destroy very fine lines, though I have found no 

 harm done to chub-lines. (Directions for greasing 

 a line and taking the kinks out of it are given 

 under chub-fishing.) A black thread line is much 

 used by some of the Thames professionals, particu- 

 larly at Kingston ; this line has a rough fibre to it, 

 and is thus supported for a long while on the surface 

 of the water. The vaselined line is much the better 

 for very long swims ; the fibres in the ungreased 

 line soon fill with water, but a rub or two with a 

 greased rag, say, twice a day, keeps it in good order. 

 Thames anglers employ very long casts or gut 

 lengths, six to nine feet being the usual Gut 

 measurement. For very thin, light floats I use length 

 the finest undrawn gut procurable throughout ; with 

 a heavy float I like a tapered line, or thicker gut 

 where the float is capped on. There is considerable 

 chafing on a gut line from float caps, particularly if 

 they are of quill, and a few cappings with a heavy 

 float will spoil a very fine gut cast. When fishing 

 swims where the float is kept close to, or under, the 

 rod-top, two or three strands of single hair may be 

 used above the hook itself, but the strike must in 

 this case be very gentle. Hair is very elastic, and 

 it is quite surprising how a wet hair cast will 

 stretch ; the strength of good hair is also con- 

 siderable, far greater than one would expect. The 

 very greatest care must be exercised in nipping 

 on the shot, or the hair will be severed. With hair 

 casts, I find I get most fish on those of dark brown, 

 though the tackle-dealers tell me grey or white is 

 more usually chosen. When very large roach are 

 to be caught; I do not advise the use of hair ; by 

 paying a good price, beautifully fine gut may be 



