DACE IN TROUT STREAMS. 37 



as their habits and food being similar to that of the trout, 

 they take much of the food from the trout ; and being a 

 restless hardy fish, and, moreover, in the height of condi- 

 tion when the trout are spawning, they pick up a vast 

 quantity of the eggs shed by the trout, and owing to these 

 and other causes they soon considerably outnumber and 

 override the trout. The greatest number of dace I ever 

 saw together was in the pools in the river Usk, a mile or 

 two below Brecon. The pools were alive with them, ancl 

 they ran very large ; I saw some nearly a pound in weight. 

 They were, too, in this water, but bad risers, and were not 

 much thinned by the fly; and bait-fishing not being 

 allowed, they had it all their own way, and the trout 

 evidently suffered in proportion to their increase. 



They are a fairly delicate fish to eat when in good 

 order, and should be broiled dry, a slice of butter being 

 then allowed to melt upon them. They make one of the 

 most valuable spinning-baits for jack and trout which the 

 angler can obtain, being bright and round, and reasonably 

 tough on the hooks. 



The metropolitan angler finds excellent dace-fishing, 

 particularly with the fly, on the various shallows between 

 Isleworth and Teddington Lock. It will be found advis- 

 able to pay some attention to the particular fly on the 

 water ; though small red and black palmers will seldom 

 foil to kill. Still there are times when other flies will kill 

 better, and it is desirable to note this. I have had good 

 sport with duns of all kinds, ant-flies, the water-cricket, 

 the cinnamon, &c. 



THE CHUB (Cyprinus cephalus). 



The chub is a well-shaped, handsome-looking member 

 of the carp tribe ; but his value for the table much belies 

 his appearance, his flesh being watery, coarse, and 



