THE RUDD THE DACE. 35 



line should be as fine as need be. I have seen some 

 of these fine silk-dressed lines, which are perfect if 

 the dressing does not, as it too often does, weaken the line 

 too much. Keep as little of the running line in the water 

 as possible when fishing, so that the strike may come as 

 directly as possible on the float ; play your fish lightly but 

 firmly, and always use the landing net to a pretty good 

 fish. In coloured water tight corking is often a capital 

 method for the roach. Beyond all be quiet and unobtru- 

 sive, and likewise patient. 



THE KUDD (Cyprinus eryophthalmus). 

 This fish is often confounded with the roach, but it 

 differs in several particulars. The dorsal fin is further 

 back in the rudd, while the upper lip is more prominent in 

 the roach, the roach being over and the rudd underhung. 

 It is, as a rule, too, thicker and deeper, and is of rather a 

 more olive colour, and it grows to a much larger size, 

 roach rarely reaching 2lb., while rudd sometimes run up 

 towards 41b. Rudd are sometimes caught in the Thames. 

 In Osterly Park and Hatfield they are abundant. In 

 Slapton Ley they reach a large size, and in Norfolk they 

 are plentiful. They take much the same baits as the 

 roach, and may be fished for in the same way. They take 

 a fly well in Slapton Ley. They are very good table fish 

 it is said, though I have never eaten them. 



THE DACE (Cyprinus leuciscus). 

 This pretty fish may be often found in the same streams 

 and caught in the same swims with roach ; nevertheless, as 

 a rule, they prefer somewhat sharper and shallower 

 streams, feeding, as they do, more upon the surface. The 

 dace is frequently found in trout streams ; indeed, there 



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