THE AMERICAN GRAYLING. 349 



Thymal/us, a decision confirmed in 1865 by Professor Cope, 

 and later by Agassiz, to whom specimens had been sent by 

 Mr. Charles Hallock. 



Slowly the Grayling worked its way to public notice. 

 Genio C. Scott, writing in 1869, devotes less than seven 

 lines of his book to this fish, though he gives it a good char- 

 acter. 



Later, Fred Mather writes: "There is no species sought 

 for by anglers that surpasses the Grayling in beauty. They 

 are more elegantly formed and more graceful than the Trout, 

 and their great dorsal iin is a superb mark of loveliness. 

 The sun's rays lighting up the delicate olive-brown tints of 

 the back and sides, the bluish-white of the abdomen, and the 

 mingling of tints of rose, pale blue, and purplish-pink on the 

 fins, display a combination of colors equaled by no fish out- 

 side of the tropics. 



It should, however, be stated that the peculiar coloration 

 which has gained for the Michigan Grayling its specific name 

 of Tricolor, is not always apparent. Its hues vary under 

 different conditions, and are sometimes mainly confined to 

 the silvery-gray and olive brown. 



Much discussion has been held among anglers concerning 

 the merits of the Grayling as a game fish, and also as to its 

 excellence as an article of food; and opinions widely differing 

 on both these points have been advanced by men whose 

 views are entitled to consideration. I am inclined to the 

 opinion that these differences are largely due to the particular 

 months in which the fish were taken. 



In the Au Sable, the Grayling spawns in April, and I think 

 earlier in some other streams. The proper months for taking 

 this fish in Michigan are September, October, and Novem- 

 ber; but a recent act of the Legislature of that State has 

 fixed the close time from the first of September to the suc- 

 ceeding May. It is to be hoped that at a future session the 

 law may be so amended that the open season shall be from 



