6o AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY. 



you are adroitly seeking with your troiit-fisherman's experience, 

 to reach some shaded pool where you should expect to find him 

 if he were a trout, you suddenly find your fly taken most unex- 

 pectedly in open water, and you are taken somewhat at a dis- 

 advantage. Once securely hooked comes the beauty of the fight, 

 and here the grayling differs most radically from the trout. In- 

 stead of seeking shelter by retreating to the deep pool or be- 

 neath some root, he will perhaps leap clear of the water from two 

 to three or more times, and with a vicious shake of the head 

 seek to free himself from the hook. When landed you try in 

 vain to determine which has the superiority, the grayling or the 

 trout, but you finally conclude that you have forgotten exactly 

 how the trout acts when hooked, and if you are a philosopher 

 you inwardly argue that it is such a close question, you will 

 leave its determination to such time as you shall catch your 

 next trout. 



The large dorsal fin is the distinguishing characteristic of the 

 grayling. In repose the fin lies folded upon its back, but in a 

 state of activity or when excited, the anterior portion becomes 

 rigid, and the posterior portion waves like a banner in the air. 

 When freshly taken from the water the dorsal fin is iridescent 

 and its variegated coloring is gorgeously beautiful and vivid. 

 The fish itself is covered with small light steely gray colored 

 scales, and above the median line has a few faint brown mot- 

 tlings about the size of the head of a pin. Its head is quite small 

 and the general contour of its body is slim and graceful. A 

 faint odor is discernible resembling the wild thyme, hence its 

 name, Thymalhts. 



As early as the year 1854 or 1855, the grayling was first called 

 to the attention of local scientists in Michigan, by Mr. Wright 

 Coftinbury, a gentleman in the employ of the general govern- 

 ment, who was then making surveys of the wilderness lying ad- 

 jacent to the Muskegon and Hersey rivers. At this time the 

 grayling was plentiful in all these streams, and afforded the sur- 

 veyor, explorer and hunter a grateful change from pork and 

 hardtack, and the fish was known among them as " Michigan 

 troiU." Mr. Coffinbury had the grayling especially called to his 

 attentictn, as he busied himself during his leisure hours in an 



