142 ANGLING 



gudgeons, as a kind of ground-bait; and others, again, 

 suggest tie propriety of raking the bottom of the water, 

 under the notion that when it is thus muddled, the 

 gudgeons imagine they are about to obtain a copious 

 supply of food. The latter plan is frequently attended 

 with some degree of success in tranquil waters, but in 

 streams it is of course useless. 



When the gudgeon is well cleaned, and wiped 

 perfectly dry, rubbed over with egg and bread-crumbs, 

 fried crisp in butter, and served up with hot melted 

 butter, along with well-buttered hot household bread, 

 he is a very delicious fish. At the breakfast-table, 

 when in this condition, he is inimitable. The French 

 have many modes of cooking him, but few better 

 than this. 



THE DACE 



The dace is a well-made fish, of a bright silvery hue. 

 He frequents clear, rapid waters, and is very often 

 found in the same streams with the trout. It makes 

 but Uttle difference to him whether the water be deep 

 or shallow, provided it be bright and tolerably rapid. 



These fish are gregarious, and in favourable waters 

 and well-adapted positions are to be found in very large 

 shoals. They are numerous in all suitable waters in 

 every section of Europe. 



Early in the summer the dace casts its spawn, and is 

 very prolific. He multiplies with surprising rapidity; 

 and the rather so, that he is enabled to avoid numerous 

 enemies, both on land and in the water, from the great 

 swiftness with which he scuds through the streams. 

 The eggs of the fish are of a dirty whitish colour. He 

 feeds freely on worms, gnats, and flies ; but other bait 

 will tempt him, as we shall soon show. 



The angler may enjoy first-rate sport with the dace, 

 because he is bold and dashing, and, for his size, a very 

 strong fish. He fights hard, and dies game. The 

 cook, perhaps, would rather not be troubled with him ; 

 but as he does not seem to be in much request— no, 

 not even with bream-eaters — recipes for cooking him 



