372 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



so aptly styled the 'lady of the stream,' is able to 

 afford the best of good sport to the fisherman, and, 

 where the fish run large, as is the case in some of 

 our Southern chalk streams, sport well worth the 

 having, and, to my mind, in nowise inferior to 

 that of trout-fishing may be enjoyed. Woman-like, 

 the grayling is by no means averse to a little finery, 

 and loves a daintily-dressed and tinselled fly. 



Grayling-fishing not only demands the use of 

 fine tackle, but delicate handling as well, for the 

 mouths of these fish are small, tender, and easily 

 torn with rough usage. And they can fight 

 bravely and long. I have known them spring 

 out of the water well-nigh as boldly as any 

 trout, though, as a rule, they utilize their large 

 back fins to resist the pressure of the rod when 

 hooked, not infrequently spinning their bodies 

 against the stream, and thereby twisting the slender 

 gut in a most perilous fashion. And who can do 

 justice to the exquisite colouring of a freshly-caught 

 grayling, especially when in full condition, as in 

 November, the month of all months in the year 

 when these fish are at their very best ? 



Ere the brown stems of the elm-trees are 

 hidden amid the fresh green leaves of early 

 summer, there is work for the gun or pea-rifle, 

 for the young rooks must be shot if the interests 

 of the sable community are to be preserved. 

 Rook-shooting may not be sport of a very exalted 

 kind indeed, it may not be considered worthy of 

 a place in the category of our British sports ; but 



