I40 THE SPORTING FISH 



referring to particular marks. The whole fish 

 moreover rapidly assumes a bronzed or golden 

 appearance in place of the silvery tinting which 

 the Dace retains in its original brilliancy to the last. 



Between Dace and Chub, and any other fish of 

 the same genus no comparison, as I have observed, 

 can well arise, as all these latter (with one only 

 exception — the Minnow) are what might be termed 

 in one sense flatfish — i.e., narrow across the back 

 and compressed at the sides. The former, on the 

 contrary, are plump and generally round shaped, so 

 to speak, as to the body. 



The Dace rises freely at the artificial fly, a 

 small red worm being generally considered the 

 best natural bait for it ; gentles, paste, caddis- 

 worms, &c. are, however, not unfrequently taken. 

 It spawns about June and is exclusively a river fish. 



Of the Chub as a "sporting" fish less can 

 probably be said with truth than of its congener, 

 but it grows to a far greater size, and from its 

 being one of the comparatively few species of 

 coarse fish which will take the fly kindly is worthy 

 of more consideration from the fisherman's point 

 of view than has often been bestowed upon it. 

 As its specific name — the "headed dace" — implies, 

 it is in its movements and appearance somewhat 

 slow and clumsy, though withal, a stately and 

 handsome fish when large and in good condition ; 

 yet I cannot but think that the fashion with old 



