Abstract
WHILST Mr. Pennell has instructed us in catching lege artis all the various fish in British rivers and lakes, Mr. Fennell has been content to devote a little volume to the natural history and fishing of the Roach. Let no one smile at the man in the punt with his humble notions of enjoyment Maybe he has been toiling hard the whole week in the noisy, murky town; the quiet sport of the Saturday afternoon suits his purse exactly, and there will be real enjoyment over the dish of fried roach “caught by father.” Nay, if we could measure the amount of pleasure, healthy recreation, and renewal of vigour obtained by the multitude in the unpretentious sport of roach-fishing, and compare it with that sought for by the select few who have the privilege of finding their amusement on a salmon river, we should probably find the balance very much on the side of the former. No apology, therefore, was needed from Mr. Fennell for the publication of his little book on the Roach. He has divided it into eight chapters, of which the first two are devoted to the natural history of this fish, and the five following to a description of the tackle and various kinds of baits, and to the methods of roach-fishing generally as well as at certain localities. In the last chapter hints are given on the roach as an article of food, on the method of cooking, &c.
The Book of the Roach.
By Greville Fennell (of the Field ), 16mo. pp. 118. (London: Longmans and Co. 1870.)
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G., A. The Book of the Roach . Nature 3, 25 (1870). https://doi.org/10.1038/003025b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/003025b0