The ground-plot, in the center of the fort, at Loaches Banks, is about two acres, surrounded by three mounds, which are large, and three trenches, which are small; the whole forming a square of four acres.
"An History of Birmingham (1783)"
William Hutton
Observe, that Loaches, if you can get them are tougher than Minnows, and quite as good if not better bait.
"The Teesdale Angler"
R Lakeland
Now I chanced to remember that once at the time of the holidays I had brought dear mother from Tiverton a jar of pickled Loaches, caught by myself in the Lowman river, and baked in the kitchen oven, with vinegar, a few leaves of bay, and about a dozen pepper-corns.
"Lorna Doone, A Romance of Exmoor"
R. D. Blackmore