THE EEL 143 



are scarcely necessary, and yet, when fresh, and fried 

 nicely in butter, he is a capital addition to the breakfast- 

 table. 



In the spring, and late in summer, he bites freely. 

 The tackle employed in roach-fishing is well fitted for 

 the dace ; and if he happen to be of a good size, he will 

 afford the rod-fisher very respectable sport. 



Many kinds of bait are in use for this fish, but the 

 best, in our opinion, are red -worms and flies. The 

 French very frequently use a small water-worm, which 

 is found in little narrow straws, like quills, and which 

 floats on the water : they call them porte-hois. "We 

 never tried this bait, but have been often assured that 

 dace are very fond of it. It is like our caddis-worm. 



The common black gnat is a good bait; and if the 

 point of the hook on which the fly is wrapped be tipped 

 with a live gentle, as in roach-fishing, the dace may be 

 killed with surprising ease and rapidity, particularly 

 when he is rising at the natural flies on a fine summer 

 evening. 



The dace must be sought for in running waters ; and 

 it is by no means an uncommon circumstance to meet 

 with them in trout - streams which abound with deep 

 holes, and where even the waters are not constantly 

 bright and sparkling. A brilliant red-worm, covering a 

 small hook, shank and all, with a shot a foot above it 

 to sink the line, will catch them readily in such 

 localities. 



The dace is a very strong fish for his size, and when 

 hooked resembles the trout in his exertions to escape. 

 When numerous, they furnish great amusement, and 

 are well fitted for practising the young artist for his 

 more difficult task of capturing the salmon and trout. 



THE KEL 



Few fish are better known than the eel. He is 

 associated in our minds with many of our youthful 

 exploits and troubles in our upward progress to piscatory 

 fame. He frequents all the rivers and waters of Europe, 



