BARBEL, DACE, AND GUDGEON. 65 
upper parts are copper-green, having a decided 
bronze lustre; under parts white, irides golden 
yellow ; and the mouth a reddish flesh-colour. A 
‘medial line runs along the body. .In certain rivers 
the barbel is fairly abundant, though from the 
nature of its haunts, its distribution is somewhat 
local. 
The dace must not be omitted from our list of 
sporting fishes. It shuns polluted streams, as also 
those with quickly flowing water ; and is found in 
greatest abundance in rivers that have deep, clear 
pools, It will rise to the fly, and in this way 
quite good takes are often to be had when the 
fish are feeding upon winged food. Dace more 
than other fish love to wanton in the streams 
which they haunt, especially in warm weather. 
They swim in shoals, and if observed with the 
sun upon them present quite a pretty sight. 
Ever and anon one of them turns its silvery sides 
uppermost, and sometimes the stream seems to 
flash with their silver. Buckland has said: ‘The 
dace has the vivacity of the bleak and the swagger 
of the chub, and that therefore it requires some little 
attention to catch him.” This is quite true, unless 
he is in the humour to be caught—which is seldom. 
He may easily be netted, however, but netting in 
this connection generally savours of poaching. 
Except roach, no fish makes such bait for pike, 
F 
