310 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part ii. 



Bring hither that landing-net, Boy. And now, Sir, 

 he is your own ; and believe me a good one, six- 

 teen inches long I warrant him : I have taken none 

 such this year. 



Viat. I never saw a Grayling before look so 

 black. 



Pise. Did you not ? why then let me tell you, 

 that you never saw one before in right season : for 

 then a Grayling is very black about his head, gills, 

 and down his back ; and has his belly of a dark 

 grey, dappled with black spots, as you see this is ; 

 and I am apt to conclude, that from thence he de- 

 rives his name of Umber. Though I must tell you 

 this fish is past his prime, and begins to decline, 

 and was in better season at Christmas than he is now. 

 But move on, for it grows towards dinner-time ; 

 and there is a very great and fine stream below, 

 under that rock, that fills the deepest pool in all the 

 river, where you are almost sure of a good fish. 



Viat. Let him come, I'll try a fall with him. But 

 1 had thought, that the Grayling had been always 

 in season with the Trout, and had come in and 

 gone out with him. 



Pise. Oh no ! assure yourself a Grayling is a 

 winter-fish : but such a one as would deceive any 

 but such as know him very well indeed ; for his flesh, 

 even in his worst season, is so firm, and will so easily 

 calver, that in plain truth he is very good meat at 

 all times : but in his perfect season, which, by the 

 way, none but an overgrown Grayling will ever be, 



