144 THE ANGLER-NATURALIST. 



freely at the fly, and in many rivers giving the angler 

 capital sport. The species is very numerous in the Thames, 

 and particularly in the neighbourhood of Richmond, where 

 they grow to a large size 6 inches from eye to commence- 

 ment of tail-fin being the minimum under which, by Act 

 of Parliament*, it is illegal to take them. The same 

 statute limits the capture of Roach in the Thames to such 

 as measure 8 inches ; but it is to be feared that where one 

 fish is basketed above these standards, a hundred are taken 

 below them. 



The New River, near Hornsey, has the reputation of 

 producing very fine Dace, specimens of three-quarters of a 

 pound each being by no means uncommon; and the people 

 residing in the neighbourhood are said to prefer them to 

 Trout for the table. The species, however, is not held in 

 much estimation by fish- epicures generally. 





Scale of Dace. Scale of Graining. 



In this country the Dace usually inhabits clear, quiet 

 streams, where it swims about in shoals or sculls, spawning 

 in June, and feeding upon grubs, water-insects, and other 



* 3rd Geo. II. cap. xxi. 



