The Grayling and the Smelt 121 



and bright rose-colored spots ; while the body is mostly purplish 

 gray, often with spots of black. Most of the species rarely 

 exceed a foot in length, but northward they grow larger. Gray- 

 ling weighing five pounds have been taken in England; and 

 according to Dr. Day they are said in Lapland to reach a weight 

 of eight or nine pounds. The grayling in all countries frequent 

 clear, cold brooks, and rarely, if ever, enter the sea, or even the 

 larger lakes. They congregate in small shoals in the streams, 

 and prefer those which have a succession of pools and shal- 

 lows, with a sandy or gravelly rather than rocky bottom. The 

 grayling spawns on the shallows in April or May (in England). 

 It is non-migratory in its habits, depositing its ova in the 

 neighborhood of its usual haunts. The ova are far more delicate 

 and easily killed than those of the trout or charr. The grayling 

 and the trout often inhabit the same waters, but not alto- 

 gether in harmony. It is said that the grayling devours the 

 eggs of the trout. It is certain that the trout feed on the 

 young grayling. As a food-fish, the grayling of course ranks 

 high ; and it is beloved by the sportsman. They are considered 

 gamy fishes, although less strong than the brook-trout, and 

 perhaps less wary. The five or six known species of grayling 

 are very closely related, and are doubtless comparatively recent 

 offshoots from a common stock, which has now spread itself 

 widely through the northern regions. 



The common grayling of Europe (Thymallus thymallus} 

 is found throughout northern Europe, and as far south as the 

 mountains of Hungary and northern Italy. The name Thymallus 

 was given by the ancients, because the fish, when fresh, was 

 said to have the odor of water-thyme. Grayling belonging to 

 this or other species are found in the waters of Russia and Siberia. 



The American grayling (Thymallus signifer} is widely dis- 

 tributed in British America and Alaska. In the Yukon it is 

 very abundant, rising readily to the fly. In several streams 

 in northern Michigan, Au Sable River, and Jordan River in 

 the southern peninsula, and Otter Creek near Keweenaw in 

 the northern peninsula, occurs a dwarfish variety or species with 

 shorter and lower dorsal fins, known to anglers as the Michigan 

 grayling (Thymallus tricolor}. This form has a longer head, 

 rather smaller scales, and the dorsal fin rather lower than in 



