262 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 
been a blank in the diary. When hooked, the Dace is 
one of the gamest fish that swims. 
Of the Chub as a “sporting” fish less can be said with 
truth than of its congener, but on the other hand it 
grows to a far greater size, and from its being one of the 
comparatively few species of coarser fish which will take 
the fly kindly, it is not to be despised. As its specific 
name—the “Headed Dace’—implies, it is somewhat 
slow and clumsy in its movements and appearance, 
though withal a stately and handsome fish when large 
and in good condition; but I cannot but think that the 
fashion with old writers of painting the Chub as a sort 
of water-donkey must have either lacked sufficient foun- 
dation, or else that the Chub of our ancestors were 
somehow different from the Chub with which we are 
acquainted. Possibly however, the fish of our Metro- 
politan river, where most of my experience of Chub- 
fishing has been obtained, may be better educated than 
those of less classical streams. For one thing I can 
vouch,—that a fish of quicker sight than the Chub does 
not swim in English waters. The slightest gleam of the 
rod, the shadow of the swallow flitting over his quiet 
corner, and down he goes like lead ; so quickly, in fact, 
that the eye is rather conscious he is no longer there 
than aware of his disappearance. Add to this extreme 
quickness of perception, the woody nature of the haunts 
in which he is to be found, and the fact that the successful 
Chub fisher must be prepared to cast his fly to within 
