THE DACE. 



After the many days' good sport I have had with this little 

 fish, and the thousands I have caught, I cannot do less than 

 say a few words about him. I believe him to be the keenest 

 and boldest biter of the finny tribe. It indeed is surprising 

 to see how he will smash a nice red worm without even touching 

 the hook. I have seen Dace bite every swim when the water 

 was clear and low, and the sun bright, and nibble the last bit 

 of worm off the hook, and yet escape being caught ; but when 

 the day is cloudy and the water coloured, his bite is sure, and 

 if you are smart you may catch nearly every one that nibble. 

 He will rise at a fly boldly, and I have often caught three and 

 four at a cast, but sometimes you will not be able to catch one ; 

 his eye is good, and he can detect the deception you are using 

 in a moment. If any one is desirous to become a good bottom 

 fisher, let him practice fishing for Dace ; he can learn the art of 

 angling sooner and better by fishing for Dace with the worm 

 than for any other. The first four years of my angling experience 

 was devoted almost entirely to Dace fishing, and I can assure 

 you, had I not done so, I should not have known how to kill the 

 finny tribe half so well as I. do at present. I have caught every 

 description of fresh water fish in one day's Dace fishing with the 

 cockspur. I once caught a HuiFe, and in the very next cast a 

 Chub six pounds weight with the same bait, and it is the 

 uncertainty of telling what fish may bite next, that makes Dace 

 fishing so amusing and exciting- 



