54 THE GRASSHOPPER, 



summer-fishing. The Grayling has the pe- 

 culiarity of never spawning till he is nearly, or 

 perhaps quite, a pound weight. Up to this 

 size, therefore, they are always in season, and 

 will rise freely at a fly. The largest Grayling, 

 or spawmers, are in season from June till 

 December ; consequently, during those months 

 they should be angled for with any bait the 

 fair fisher will condescend to use. But since, 

 in the club fo which I have alluded, the largest 

 Grayling are not allowed to be killed in 

 summer by any member or his friends ; and as 

 few can face the severity of winter, even wdien 

 the state of the water wall allow the sport, the 

 finest fish are preserved for the Otter, the 

 Jack, and the Poacher ! — a most curious regu- 

 lation for a club of Grayling fishers. 



A far better regulation would be, that no 

 Grayling, more than one pound in weight, 

 should be taken, with any bait whatever, 

 between the 1st of December and the 1st of 

 June : thus protecting their spawning season, 

 and allowing sufficient time for them to become 

 o;ood and w^iolesome food. 



