CARP, DACE AND MINNOW. 



425 



The Dace of England, Squalius leiiciscus, belongs to the same genus, 

 which is one of the largest in this group of fishes, abundantly represented 

 in the Palceartic region, and by at least fifty species in North America. 



'Wimim 



THE EUROPEAN DACE. SQUALIUS LEUCISCUS. 



It is the Vandoise of France, the Hasel of Austria, the Hiiseling of 

 North Germany. 



The name Dace seems to be a modification of the word meaning a dart 

 or javelin. Hundreds of years ago, according to Skat, it was called 

 "Darce" and "Dare" (pronounced ^a/;/-) by our English forefathers, 

 names clearly related to the old French dard and the Latin dardus. The 

 Bretons call this species the " Darz," and in parts of England it is still 

 known by the name " Dart." 



Pennell tells us that it is "a bright, graceful fish, glancing about in the 

 clear, and quiet streams which are often barren of trout or salmon," and 

 is in full season from October to January when these are spawning, "and 

 thus," he continues, " a red-letter day's sport is often to be obtained 

 which would otherwise have had to be left blank in the angler's diary." 

 It readily rises to an artificial fly, as does also the Chub, and Pennell's 

 instructions are worth the consideration of American brook anglers.* 



The German anglers, who fish for the Haseling from July to October, 

 ground-bait with several hundred angle worms, about twenty hours before 

 they intend to fish. They use the same tackle and bait as in carp fishing, 

 and occasionally, in the latter part of July and August, employ an artificial 

 fly, which they find more tempting if a maggot is added at the top of the 

 hook. 



It is said that the Jews consume great quantities of Dace in theirseasons 



*See " The Badminton Library." 



