48 
HO.'iUH. 
in some situations of this northern sea, from the flow of rivers 
the water is rendered so fresh as to admit of living in it, 
some species that in other countries are confined to inland 
waters. 
The Roach is generally distributed throughout Europe, 
except in the more southern parts. It is not known in 
Cornwall, and in Devonshire only in the lake called Slapton 
Ley, close to the south border of that county. Neither has 
it been found in Ireland; and the little esteem in which it is 
held as food has prevented its being conveyed into the many 
favourable situations for it which might be found in that 
country. But although in small regard for the table, it has 
been held in no small esteem by anglers, as afibrding lively 
sport from the eager way in which it lakes the hook; in 
doing which it has obtained a character altogether opposite 
to that of the subtle Carp. “The Roche,” says the Book of 
St. Albans, “is an easy fysshe to take;” but it is added, “yf 
he be fatte and pennyd thenne is he good meete.” To the 
more ordinary baits this work closes with recommending the 
“fatte of bakon.” 
The Roach is usually about eight or ten inches in length, 
but sometimes it reaches fourteen or fifteen inches, with a 
depth of nearly the fourth part of the length. The gape is 
small; jaws without teeth; snout somewhat rounded. Outline 
of the body rising gently to the origin of the dorsal fin, 
which is above the root of the ventrals, and from thence 
sloping gradually to the tail. Scales large, easily lost; lateral 
line descending at first, and then proceeding nearer the 
ventral border than to the back. Eye moderate. The dorsal 
fin elevated, its first ray nearer the snout than to the tail; tail 
forked. Anal fin behind the termination of the dorsal, and 
the number of the fin rays equal in both, eleven or twelve in 
number; pectoral rounded, with sixteen I’ays; ventrals with 
nine; nineteen in the tail. Colour of the back greyish green, 
sometimes with a tinge of brown; sides whitish, with a tint 
of blue or reddish. Dorsal fin and tail dark; anal, ventral, 
and pectoral fins red; but- Nilsson remarks that in the younger 
examples the eye is yellow instead of red, and the ventral 
and anal fins only reddish. The air-bladder and pharyngeal 
teeth possess the general characters of the family. 
