524 PRACTICAL LESSONS IN THE GENTLE CRAFT. 



water ; by these means many fish may be captured that 

 otherwise would have gone untouched. The ant fly, a 

 winged insect found in the interior of the anthills, is a 

 splendid natural bait for dace, and Walton thus gives 

 instructions for their capture and subsequent keeping. He 

 sa y S : Gather them alive with both their wings, and put 

 them into a glass that will hold a quart or pottle ; first put 

 into the glass a handful or more of the moist earth out of 

 which you gather them, and as much of the roots of the 

 grass of the said hillock, and then put in the flies, gently, 

 that they lose not their wings ; lay a clod of earth over it, 

 and then so many as are put into the glass without bruising 

 will live there a month or more, and be always in readiness 

 for you to fish with. But if you would have them keep 

 longer, then get any great earthen pot or barrel, or three 

 or four gallons, which is better, then wash your barrel with 

 water and honey, and having put into it a quantity of earth 

 and grass roots, then put in your flies, and they will cover 

 it, and will live a quarter of a year these in any stream 

 and clear water are a deadly bait for roach or dace, or for 

 a chub." So far as culinary properties are concerned, the 

 "silvery dace" has little, if anything, to recommend him, 

 although when fried, crisp and brown, in good oil or lard, 

 and eaten in lieu of anything better, with the appetite 

 engendered by a long ramble, rod in hand, by the brink of 

 some sparkling streamlet, he is not to be despised ; and I 

 can well recollect on one occasion, when cold, wet, and 

 hungry, I got back to a little village " pub.," at which I 

 had engaged a bed for the night, I was met with the 

 comforting assurance, that save some rusty bacon, and 

 cheese like soap, there was nothing eatable in the house. I 

 had, however, some three dozen splendid dace, and these were 

 forthwith consigned to the kitchen for my supper ; presently 



