THE CHUB 27 



The greatest number of dace I ever saw together was in the 

 pools in the river Usk, a mile or two below Brecon. The 

 pools were alive with them, and they ran very large ; I saw 

 some nearly a pound in weight. They were, too, in this water, 

 but bad risers, and were not much thinned by the fly, and 

 bait-fishing not being allowed, they had it all their own way, 

 and the trout evidently suffered in proportion to their increase. 



They are a delicate fish to eat when in good order, and 

 should be broiled dry, a slice of butter being then allowed to 

 melt upon them. They make one of the most valuable spinning 

 baits for jack and trout which the angler can obtain, being 

 bright and round, and reasonably tough on the hooks. 



The metropolitan angler finds excellent dace-fishing, particu- 

 larly with the fly, on the various shallows between Isleworth 

 and Tedding ton Lock. It will be found advisable to pay 

 some attention to the particular fly on the water ; though 

 small red and black palmers will seldom fail to kill. Still 

 there are times when other flies will kill better, and it is 

 advisable to note this. I have had good sport with duns of 

 all kinds, ant flies, the water-cricket, the cinnamon, etc. 



THE CHUB (Leuciscus cephalus) 



The chub is a well-shaped, handsome-looking member of 

 the carp tribe ; but his value for the table much belies his 

 appearance, his flesh being watery, coarse, and tasteless. 

 The French are said to call him " un vilain," from the difficulty 

 they experience in rendering him toothsome, and it seems 

 reasonable that the fish, which even French cookery rejects 

 as worthless, should be held by others in the very lowest 

 estimation ; and yet he may be made eatable. One of the 

 best recipes for this purpose is the well-known one in Izaak 

 Walton. Moreover, small chub of some half-pound weight, if 

 crimped and fried dry, are by no means so bad as above 

 represented, and will " pleasure " others than " poor bodies.'* 

 But I must reiterate that which he states with respect to chub, 

 viz. that they must be cooked as soon as caught, for if kept 

 even for the night they are worthless. 



The chub spawns early in May, and not uncommonly 

 reaches the weight of six or seven pounds, though seldom 

 taken over that weight. Yarrell says he cannot find one 

 recorded of over five pounds weight, but I have seen them of 



