THE CARP FAMILY. 155 



The Chub usually spawns in May or in the latter end of 

 April, selecting for this purpose a shallow gravelly bottom 

 under weeds. After spawning, it rushes into the sharpest 

 and swiftest streams it can find to recover strength, and 

 is supposed to be ready to bite almost immediately t- 

 The taking, however, of this or any other species within at 

 least a month after spawning is an unworthy practice which 

 should be discouraged by all true sportsmen, as the fish are 

 then weak, ravenous, and unfit for food. 



In June or July the Chub moves into deeper waters, 

 especially beneath banks overhung with trees or bushes, 

 and will be there found until October or November, when 

 it takes up its winter-quarters, in quiet swims, under wil- 

 low-beds, amongst roots, by sunken piles, or in any other 

 cover affording a good shelter. It may be at once distin- 

 guished, both from the Roach and Dace, by the size of the 

 head, and by the dark chocolate, almost black, tint of its 

 back and tail-fin. This colouring is particularly conspi- 



* See p. 59. t Baily's Angler's Instructor. 



