264 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 sufificient 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 



