THE ROACH 195 



are considered large, although as much as i^ lbs. is 

 sometimes attained; the example figured (PI. XXVI, 

 Fig. i) measures 9 inches. 



The Dace is a graceful and lively fish, which 

 delights in clear streams ; it feeds on insects, 

 shrimps, worms, etc., sometimes leaping at the flies 

 on the surface of the water and sometimes keeping 

 near the bottom ; it spawns at about the same time 

 as the Chub and often in the same places, and like 

 the Chub retires to deep water for the winter. 



The Dace affords excellent sport to the fly fisher- 

 man ; as food it is distinctly better than the Chub, 

 but the chief use of this species is as a bait for Pike, 

 its bright coloration, activity, and tenacity of life 

 making it especially suitable for this purpose. 



The name Dace is from the old English Darse or 

 Dart, applied to the fish from its darting movements, 

 and appropriately, as any one will acknowledge who 

 has watched them in a mill-stream and seen them 

 make their way against the current by means of a 

 succession of quick darts. 



In Lancashire the Dace is called " Graining," and 

 Yarrell believed that this was a distinct form, to 

 which he gave the name Leuciscus lancastriensis ; 

 but the characters he used to diagnose this supposed 

 species pertained only to the individual specimen 

 he described, and I cannot see that the Dace of 

 Lancashire differ in any way from those of other 

 parts of P2ngland. 



The Roach {Rutihis rutilus) has the body 

 moderately deep and more or less compressed, the 

 greatest depth in the adult fish measuring from 

 one-fourth to two-fifths of the length to the base of 



