THE DACE 139 
‘Continent. Its range nearly coincides with that of the roach, 
but it is not native to Scottish or Irish waters. Like all 
the family, it is subject to local variations, which have 
been distinguished as species by some naturalists. 
One of these varieties, named the graining, and formerly 
known to ichthyologists as Leuciscus lancastriensis, inhabits the 
Mersey, the Warwickshire Leam, and some of the Swiss lakes. 
The so-called dobule roach, Leuciscus dobula of Yarrell, is 
probably no more than a young dace. 
In habits, food, time of spawning, and other respects, the 
dace corresponds pretty closely to the roach, save that it is 
more addicted to surface-feeding, and is more at 
home in running water than in still. It is nowhere 
so abundant in Britain as the chub and roach ; nor can it be 
considered wise to introduce it into those waters where it does 
not already exist, for as an article of food it holds a place not 
much, if at all, higher than the other silvery carps. 
Dace may be taken by all the means and tackle used in 
roach-fishing ; but, having regard to the worthlessness of the 
Angling for fish when caught and their moderate size, artificial 
Dace. —_ fly-fishing is the only method worth the attention of 
those who fish for sport. Of course in match-fishing, where 
the object is to weigh in as many fish as possible, other motives 
must be taken into account, and bait may be resorted to. 
People of means ample enough to secure for themselves 
good salmon and trout fishing are apt to despise the 
competitive angler; but it requires only a slight knowledge 
of the conditions of life in crowded industrial districts to 
enable one to realise the value of waterside recreation for 
hard-working men. Coarse fish are such a poor prize in 
themselves that one should not grudge their captors the 
additional zest of competition. But from the standpoint of 
pure sport, fly-fishing is the right way to take dace; and 
may be practised best when the fish move on to the shallows 
on serene summer evenings. It takes a quick hand to score 
Distribution. 
Habits, 
