DACE. CHUB. BLEAK. COLD-FISH. 295 



THE DACE. 



This fish, like the roach, is gregarious, haunts the same 

 places, is a great breeder, very lively, and during summer, 

 is fond of frolicking on the surface of the water. It seldom 

 exceeds a pound in weight, and the flesh is not much es- 

 teemed ; however, it affords great diversion to the expert 

 angler, as it will bite at any fly. The back is dusky with 

 a yellowish cast of green, and the sides and belly are 

 silvery. 



THE CHUB. 



The chub is a very coarse fish, and extremely full of 

 bones. The body is oblong and rather round, and the head 

 is short and thick. The upper part is of a dusky-green 

 colour, the sides are silvery, and the belly is white. 



This fish frequents the deep holes of rivers ; and during 

 summer, commonly lies on the surface of the water, be- 

 neath the shade of some tree or bush. It is very timid, 

 darting to the bottom on the least alarm ; but soon resumes 

 its former situation. The flesh is in little esteem, and the 

 weight seldom exceeds five pounds. 



THE BLEAK. 



These fishes are very common in many of our rivers, 

 and keep together in large shoals. They seldom exceed 

 five or six inches in length, and from their scales, artificial 

 pearls are made, as well as from the perch. 



THE GOLD-FISH. 



Though natives of China, these beautiful fishes are quite 

 naturalized in this kingdom, where they breed as freely in 

 the open air as carp. They were little known here before 

 the year 1728, when a number of individuals were im- 

 ported, and circulated round the vicinity of London ; whence 

 they have been gradually distributed to the remotest parts 

 of the island. 



The gold-fish bears a great resemblance to the carp, 

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