172 SALMONIA. [seventh day 



contains principally trout ; the Clun, both trout and 

 grayling ; but the fish are more abundant in the 

 meadows, between this place and Downton, than in 

 other parts of the river; for above, the stream is too 

 rapid and shallow to be favourable to their increase ; 

 and below, it is joined by other streams, and becomes 

 too abundant in coarse fish. 



POIET. — I cannot understand why the grayling 

 should be so scarce a fish in England. It is abundant 

 in many districts on the Continent ; but in this island 

 it is found, I believe, only in a few rivers ; and does 

 not exist, I think, either in Ireland or Scotland. Yet, 

 being an Alpine fish, and naturally fond of cool water, 

 it might have been expected among the Highlands. 



HAL. — I formerly used to account for this, by 

 supposing it an imported fish, and not indigenous; 

 but, in some of my continental excursions, I have 

 seen it living only under such peculiar circumstances, 

 that I doubt the correctness of this my early opinion. 



POIET. — Which was, I conclude, that it was 

 introduced by the monks, in the time when England 

 was under the See of Rome. As a favourite fish of 

 St. Ambrose it was worth cultivating, as well as for 

 its own sake ; and I think you have done wrong to 

 relinquish this idea, for, as far as my recollection 

 serves me, the rivers that contain it are near the ruins 

 of great monasteries, — the Avon near Salisbury, 



