64 THE SPORTING FISH 



be naturalised has not been attended with much 

 success. In some they soon disappeared ; in others 

 they remained, but never thrived ; while in some 

 waters, though they lived, and at first increased, 

 yet they were afterwards observed to shift their 

 quarters to different grounds, in most of which 

 cases it proved, as in the Test of Hampshire, that 

 they migrated from above downwards, probably in 

 search of deeper and more tranquil waters : for the 

 angler cannot fail to observe that Grayling do not, 

 like Trout, affect very rapid shallows and the 

 coldest torrents ; on the contrary, they seem to 

 thrive best where milder currents alternate with 

 deep and extensive pools." On these rapids, how- 

 ever — or "stickles," as they are termed — small 

 Grayling may frequently be found, but the large 

 fish rarely, except in the spawning-season. The 

 haunts of large Grayling are the deepish and 

 slowly-running tails of streams or pools, a few 

 yards before the formation of fresh shallows ; and 

 here they will be found at all times, except when 

 spawning. 



It has been asserted that the Grayling is not, 

 like the Trout, indigenous to this country, but was 

 introduced by the monks on account of its edible 

 qualities — a supposition to which the peculiarity of 

 the local distribution doubtless gave rise. The fol- 

 lowing is a list of the best known Grayling waters, 

 though I will not say that there may not be others 

 with which I am unacquainted : — 



