THE DACE. 309 



the hook of which is pointed with a gentle, or to the 

 bend of which a small piece of white kid resembling a 

 gentle is attached. Mr. Francis, who is always full of 

 expedients, based on philosophic principles, recommends 

 a small shred of " the inner rind of a scrap of stringy 

 bacon, a sort of compromise between the gentle and the 

 piece of kid, as it is something to taste and not liable to 

 be whipped off." I have tried this, and found it answer 

 admirably. A very pleasant hour or two of a summer's 

 evening may be whiled away on the Thames whipping for 

 dace, either from the bank or a punt, or, better still, by 

 wading the shallows. A novice who can look forward 

 some day to trout and salmon fishing cannot do better 

 than commence his apprenticeship to fly-fishing with the 

 humble dace. 



Bottom-fishing for dace is at its best in October, 

 November, December, and January, during which months 

 they are in the deeper swims and in the finest condi- 

 tion. It may be stated in a general way that the rules 

 for roach-fishing apply to dace-fishing, except that the 

 latter fish prefer more rapid runs, and do not care 

 much for any sort of paste. They will take worms 

 of almost any kind, greaves — a bait which seems to have 

 been going quite out of fashion on the Thames of late 

 years — and gentles ; but there is nothing which surpasses 

 a bright red worm, which should cover the hook (a small 

 one) shank and all. The French in fishing for the dard 

 frequently use a small water-worm, something like our 

 caddis-worm, which is found in little narrow straws, like 

 quills, and which floats on the water. They call them 

 porte-bois. In dace-fishing, as indeed in all bottom fishing 

 on the Thames, the " Nottingham " method is the most 



