[!3] OPERATIONS AT NORTH VILLE AND ALPENA. 163 



^^'alcely, a settler living near the river, bas promised to try the experi- 

 ment of lioldiug a score or more tbrougli the coming winter. 



There is a steady diminution in the number of grayling in their native 

 streams, due to excessive fishing and to the interruption of spawning 

 and hatching b}^ the immense number of logs that are yearly floated, 

 driving the fish from the beds and, in shoal places, destroying the beds 

 tliemselves. Mr. E. S. Babbitt, of Grayling, an old guide and profes- 

 sional trout and grayling fisherman, says there is not now one gi'ayling 

 where there were a hundred ten years ago. It is believed by the 

 residents of the grayling region that if the species is not protected or 

 propagated, it will soon become extinct. This would certaiidy be a great 

 misfortune, as the grayling is unsurpassed for game and table qualities 

 by any of the freshwater species. Eailroad companies whose lines 

 reacli tlie region where it abounds advertise this fact as a leading 

 attrsiction for tourists, and tlie grayling has taken no small i)art in the 

 settlement and improvement of the region of its habitat. 



