THE ROACH. 143 



Fecundity Time for angling. 



Dace are exceedingly prolific. They spawn 

 in March, and are in season three weeks after- 

 wards. They improve, and are good about Mi- 

 chaelmas, but are best in February. In this 

 month, if, when just taken out of the water, 

 they are scotched and broiled, they are said to be 

 even more palatable than a herring. Their flesh, 

 however, is generally insipid, and full of bones. 



These fish afford great amusement to the an- 

 gler. The baits are various kinds of wdrms, and 

 the common flesh-flies. The season for angling 

 is from April to February, but best in the win- 

 ter. In hot weather, the time is early and late 

 in the day : in cold weather, during the mid- 

 dle ; and in mild cloudy weather, the whole of 

 the day. 



In the Mersey, near Warrington, a fish called 

 the graining is taken, which very much resem- 

 bles the dace, but is slenderer, and the back 

 shorter, the usual length not exceeding eight 

 inches. The colour of the back is silvery, with 

 a bluish cast; the eyes, ventral and anal fins are 

 paler than those of the dace, but the pectoral fin 

 is redder, and they -ire much better eating. 



THE ROACH. 



THIS, which is a handsome fish either in or 

 fresh out of water, has large eyes, the circle of 

 which resembles gold colour, and the iris red. It 



