THE JOLLY ANGLER. '27 



water," though here they propagate very fast. I have 

 caught one or two of them in rivers, but have no doubt 

 they were washed out of ponds during floods, c. In 

 Dagenham Breach, the Roach and Rudd are many of them 

 so much alike, that it would be impossible to say to which 

 class they belong. These fish are easily taken, (see Pond 

 Fishing,) and will afford excellent amusement to the 

 young angler, though as a " dish at table," they are very 

 inferior to the healthy river fish. 



THE DACE 



Is a fine lively looking fish, of a bright silvery hue, covered 

 with smaller scales than the Roach, and averages in weight 

 from three to six ounces in the Rivers Lea and Thames, 

 but in some Trout streams they will grow to a pound, and 

 of proportionate strength; from which, and their general 

 habits of getting in the sharpest parts of heavy rivers, I 

 should imagine them to have been originally inhabi- 

 tants of those streams and rivulets with which this country 

 abounds; their habits are similar to the Trout, feeding 

 during the spring and summer months on the shallows 

 where the water runs sharp, as well as at mill tails, taking 

 down flies, insects, &c. (see Fly Fishing for Dace.) The 

 most amusing way of taking these fish at this season is with 

 a fly rod and line, with two yards of fine gut (or single 

 hair, if fishing where there are no large fish) between the 

 running line and your hook, which should be No. 9 or 10, 

 without shot, unless the stream is very strong, as you 

 will find it difficult to get your bait to swim far enough 

 down the stream without catching the ground if you have 

 shot on the line ; the bait, a May fly if on the water, other- 

 wise a March brown house fly, gentle, or red worm; 

 Jet the bait go down with the current 10 or 15 yards, 



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