CHAPTER XV. 



THE CHUB. 



THE chub (Leuciscus cephalus large-headed dace), or "loggerhead," 

 as it is sometimes opprobriously termed, is a fine, handsome, silvery 

 bluish carp, of prodigious strength and considerable cunning. There is 

 but little justice in the term " loggerhead." It is evidently in reference 

 to the breadth of the fish's head and its habit of endeavouring to hide 

 itself, head first, in the weeds, when hooked, that the nickname is given. 

 Eeally, however, the head of the fish is symmetrical, and the entire 

 contour is indicative of strength. The term " loggerhead " is, there- 

 fore, a cognomen which, in its opprobrious sense, is undeserved. It is 

 also termed skelly (scaley P) in Scotland and the Cumberland lakes, and 

 its old English name was chevin or chavender, which is even now preserved 

 in some localities. 



The chub abounds in nearly all the rivers of England and France, 

 and, from its strength, is equally at home in rapid torrents and quiet 

 smiling depths. It is rarely found in lakes, nor does it thrive in stagnant 

 water. Its size often from the Thames is above 41b., and in some cases 

 chub of 61b. have been scaled. Such occasions, however, are rare. In 

 some continental rivers I am informed it is not unusual to find them as 

 large as lOlb. What a splendid piece of sport would one of this size 

 afford on fine Nottingham tackle in a deep open stream ! 



The spawning season for chub is soon after Easter, and the ova, 

 which are each of a yellowish colour and about the size of a poppy seed, 

 are deposited on the shallows somewhat after the fashion of roach, 

 although in probably somewhat more secluded spots, near and -under 

 weeds. Like the roach, the parent fish, immediately after the operation, 

 consume in large quantities the weed Conferva rivualis, which may or 

 may not exert some beneficial influence on the health of the fish. In 



