42 DACE. 



swimming- generally in shoals ; it feeds on the larvae of various kinds of insects, as well as 

 on the insects themselves, and on worms; its food is also partly of a vegetable nature. The 

 spawning time is in the month of June, at which season these fish may often be seen to 

 congregate on the weedy shallows of rivers, upon which they deposit their ova. 



Dace rise freely at the artificial fly, and, as Mr. Pennell says, "make a gallant fight 

 when hooked." They are in good condition in September and October, and though not 

 held in great repute in a gastronomic point of view, being rather soft in flesh and full of 

 small bones, fine specimens out of our clear rivers are not to be despised when nicely fried. 

 The Thames fishermen catch considerable number of Dace, using a light red worm as a 

 bait; bottom-fishing is said to be at its best in October, November, and even in December 

 and January. The Jews have a great liking for Dace, and indeed for white fish generally, 

 and, as Mr. Manley says, they consume them in large numbers (at least when they can get 

 them) during their fasts. Very fine Dace are said to be produced in the New River, near 

 Hornsey, specimens of three-quarters of a pound being by no means uncommon ; according 

 to Mr. Pennell, the people residing in the neighbourhood are said to prefer them to Trout for 

 the table. The Dace, from its brilliant appearance, is an excellent bait in trolling for Pike, 

 especially when the water is discoloured. The usual size to which the Dace attains is about 

 eight or nine inches, though larger specimens are found. 



The length of the specimen before me from point of nose to the bifurcation of the tail 



is seven inches and a half; the greatest depth is two inches; the length of the head is one 



inch and a half; mouth narrow, the cleft not extending as far as the front margin of the 



orbit, upper jaw overlapping the lower; the origin of the dorsal fin is just opposite the 



hind part of the root of the ventral ; three or four longitudinal series of scales between the 



lateral line and the ventral fin ; upper part of back brownish blue, or blue by angularly 



reflected light ; below lateral line silvery white ; irides white or light straw-colour ; pectoral 



and ventral fins slightly tinged with red; anal white; caudal brown, deeply forked. 



The fin rays are 



Dorsal 9. 

 Pectoral 15. 

 Ventral 9. 



Anal 10. 



The word Dace appears to have been formed by what philologists term "phonetic decay" 

 from the fuller form of dart, a name which, with another synonym of dare, Is applied to the 

 fish under our consideration. As early as the time of Gesner we learn that this species of 

 Leuciscus was called the Dard by the Santones and Pictones (the old names for the inhabitants 

 of the provinces of Salntonge and Poltou), because the fish moves rapidly, like an arrow or 

 "dart." "Alia Leuclsci species est ea quse hodie a Gallls Vandoise vocatur, a Santonlbus et 

 PIctonlbus Dard, quod saglttae modo sese vibret." — {De Aquatil. p. 26.) Mr, Manley aptly 

 quotes Drayton as having in his mind the "darting" Dace when he says — 



"Oft swiftly as he swims, his silver belly shows; 

 But with such nimble flight, that ere ye can disclose 

 His shape, out of your sight like lightning he is shot." 



Slightly altering a line in Keble's Clirhtian Year, we may apply It especially to Dace as 



"Living shafts that pierce" the stream. 



Vandoise or Vaudolse is at this day one of the B>ench names of the Dace; it reminds one of 

 the Vendace, or Coreooiins vandesiiis, of Loch Maben in Dumfriesshire, one of the Salmonoids, 

 but what the derivation of the word may be I know not, and M. Littre In his French 

 Dictionary gives no explanation. 



