THE AMERICAN GRAYLING. 36 1 



During our meal, the conversation naturally drifted toward 

 the objects of our cruise, and when we had finished, John 

 arose, took up his rod, and attaching a white miller to his 

 leader, stated his intention of trying a cast by moonlight. 

 This he accordingly did, but unsuccessfully; and after one or 

 two changes of flies, he gave up the experiment, returned 

 to the fire and lighted his pipe. 



The air was frosty. Fresh logs were heaped upon the fire, 

 and, disposing ourselves upon the blankets, we leaned our 

 backs against the birches that towered aloft against the starry 

 sky, their white bark gleaming in the ruddy blaze. 



Said John, reflectively: "The best day I ever had was on 

 the Jordan, long ago. Jim S. and I caught one hundred and 

 forty-two Grayling in one day, besides those we returned to 

 the water. We took home nothing under a pound, and 

 many were nearly twice that weight. There are none such 

 to be had now. It was in July, and we used nothing but 

 gnats and gray hackles. 



"Jim got excited once, when he had three big fellows on 

 at one time, and broke the second joint of his rod. Then 

 we dropped the hand-fly, and at last used only one gnat 

 apiece. The last time I fished that river, I caught fifty-six 

 Trout, but not a Grayling rose to the fly. 



"In Maple River they are still plentiful, and (so I hear) in 

 Portage Lake. 



"On the Au Sable, the best fishing-grounds are forty miles 

 further down than they used to be. 



"I have had good success on the Buttermilk and Cannon 

 creeks, but you have to go pretty well down the streams for 

 the best fish. Cannon Creek seems to be full of little fellows. 

 On the Little Manistee the Grayling is still plentiful, but I 

 fear not for long, at the rate they are being taken. 



"I believe that the way to insure the preservation of this 

 fish is to pass an act prohibiting, under a heavy penalty, the 

 catching of Grayling at any time except during the 



