THE GRAYLING. 273 



We can see no reason why the grayling should not be an 

 indigenous fish. 



The proper season for grayling is from the beginning 

 of September to the end of January. They are then in 

 their prime, and are bold and daring, rising again and 

 again at the fly. 



Some consider the grayling interferes with the trout, 

 not only by devouring the spawn, but by taking all the 

 flies on the top of the water and all the larvae at the 

 bottom. They liken this beautiful and sporting fish to a 

 pig, and, " like a pig in his habits, he is particularly fond 

 of rooting up and feeding on the bed of the river, picking 

 up the abundant harvest they find there in the shape of 

 aquatic insects in their larval states." 



From the very tender mouth of this fish, it may be 

 doubted if it can rout up the rhedds made by the trout. 

 Like all fish, even S. fario itself, they will take the ova 

 that float down the stream, most of which are probably 

 unprolific. 



Why attack the grayling for eating the larvae at the 

 bottom ? What are the trout doing when they are what 

 is called tailing ? and when you compare the mouths 

 of the trout and grayling, which will do the most 

 damage ? 



Trout, when feeding on the fly, lie just below the 

 surface, so that they can take their prey with very little 

 effort, and any one who will have the patience to watch 

 a trout feeding, and resists the desire to throw over him 

 for a time, will see what a great number of flies pass 

 him without the slightest notice being taken of them. 

 Grayling lie at the bottom, and have to rise rapidly at the 

 fly, and at once return to their haunts. Which of the two 

 has the best chance ? We feel quite sure that trout and 

 grayling will live quite happily together. The fault lies 

 in overstocking a river, when too many fish are preserved 

 for the quantity of food supplied. In the present day 

 everything must give way to numbers. 



All admire the purple-spotted dorsal fin, which, when 

 fresh from the water, is more like a beautiful piece of 



s 



