DACE, DARE, or DART, (leueicus rulgari.1), a fresh-water fish of the family cyprinidcF (q.v.), and of the same genus with the roach, ide, chub, bleak, minnow, etc. It chiefly inhabits the deep and clear water of quiet streams. It is found in Italy, France, Germany, etc., and in some of the rivers of England, but is very local. It is in form not unlike the roach, but rather more elongated; the mouth is rather large, the scales smaller. The upper parts are dusky blue, becoming paler on the sides, and passing into white on the belly, the cheek and gill-covers silvery white. The D. is and swims in shoals. Its flesh is preferred to that of the roach, hut is not 'highly esteemed. The D. is perhaps the liveliest and most active of the cyprinidce, and affords the angler fair sport both with fly and bait. It is fished for with a light float and a fine gut line. The float is set so that the bait may almost touch the bottom. At the least symptom of a bite, the angler must strike quickly. The best baits are the red-worm. the tail of a lob-worm, gentles, greaves, and flies or grubs of any kind. The best
places to fish with bait are moderately sharp streams, of from 2 to 4 or 5 ft. deep. Dace at times take the fly very freely, and show capital sport. Small red and black pahners will be found the most useful flies for the purpose, and their killing properties will be greatly increased if the hook is tipped with a tough gentle, as D. are very apt to follow.the fly without taking it, when the .gentle overcomes their scruples; small piece of the white, tough, inner rind of bacon answers equally well; and even a small piece of wash-leather may be used. Shallows, scours, and by the edge of-weed beds, are the best spots for the fly. D. may be taken also by " dapping ' with the natural fly, and those so .taken are usually the finest fish. D. seldom exceed a pound in weight, though in some rivers they have been taken up to 14 lb. In the Thames, a fish of half a pound is considered unusual. They spawn in the end of April, or early in May, and soon recover their condition again.