THE DACE 139 



Continent. Its range nearly coincides with that of the roach, 



but it is not native to Scottish or Irish waters. Like all 



the family, it is subject to local variations, which have 

 Distribution. , j-^--ij -u >. v ^ 



been distinguished as species by some naturalists. 

 One of these varieties, named the graining, and formerly 

 known to ichthyologists as Leuciscus lancastriensis^ inhabits the 

 Mersey, the Warwickshire Learn, and some of the Swiss lakes. 

 The so-called dobule roach, Leuciscus dobula of Yarrell, is 

 probably no more than a young dace. 



In habits, food, time of spawning, and other respects, the 

 dace corresponds pretty closely to the roach, save that it is 

 more addicted to surface-feeding, and is more at 

 home in running water than in still. It is nowhere 

 so abundant in Britain as the chub and roach ; nor can it be 

 considered wise to introduce it into those waters where it does 

 not already exist, for as an article of food it holds a place not 

 much, if at all, higher than the other silvery carps. 



Dace may be taken by all the means and tackle used in 

 roach-fishing ; but, having regard to the worthlessness of the 

 Angling for ^^^ when caught and their moderate size, artificial 

 Dace. fly-fishing is the only method worth the attention of 

 those who fish for sport. Of course in match-fishing, where 

 the object is to weigh in as many fish as possible, other motives 

 must be taken into account, and bait may be resorted to. 



People of means ample enough to secure for themselves 

 good salmon and trout fishing are apt to despise the 

 competitive angler ; but it requires only a slight knowledge 

 of the conditions of life in crowded industrial districts to 

 enable one to realise the value of waterside recreation for 

 hard-working men. Coarse fish are such a poor prize in 

 themselves that one should not grudge their captors the 

 additional zest of competition. But from the standpoint of 

 pure sport, fly-fishing is the right way to take dace ; and 

 may be practised best when the fish move on to the shallows 

 on serene summer evenings. It takes a quick hand to score 



