348 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



they have always been numerous, to those of the lower, 

 where they are said to have been previously unknown. 



I first saw the Grayling caught near the mouth of the 

 Cedar, in the Intermediate River, where now stands the 

 village of Bellaire. 



Ten years ago they were fairly numerous in Cedar River, 

 but none of the streams I have mentioned now contains more 

 than an occasional Grayling. 



It is said that Mr. Fred Mather hatched the first Grayling, 

 in 1874; and since that time many attempts have been made 

 to propagate this fish, notably those of the Michigan Fish 

 Commission, which, I regret to say, have proved a failure. I 

 cannot learn that others have been more successful. In 

 many countries of Europe, the Trout and Grayling are found 

 side by side, and the same is true in the streams forming 

 the head-waters of the Missouri. In Michigan, however, it 

 has been observed that wherever the Trout have found their 

 way into a Grayling stream there has ensued a serious dimi- 

 nution in the numbers of the latter fish. The favorite theory 

 has been that the Trout devour the spawn and the young of 

 the Grayling; but some accurate observers hold to the opin- 

 ion that the latter, being in its habits a local fish, and not 

 sjiven to migration, like the Trout, has simply been "caught 

 3ut" by anglers. In the words of Mr. J. B. Battelle, "it is 

 the fishermen and not the fish, who are responsible for the 

 disappearance of the Grayling." 



In 1854 or 1855, Mr. Wright L. Coffinberry, a surveyor in 

 the employ of the General Government, found Grayling 

 abundant in the Muskegon and neighboring streams, and 

 called the attention of Michigan scientists to the fact. It is 

 said that the fish were at that time so numerous that they were 

 taken in wagon loads by the settlers, and salted as provisions. 

 They were locally known as "Michigan Trout." Soon after, 

 Dr. Parker, of Grand Rapids, succeeded in procuring an 

 imperfectly preserved specimen, and pronounced it a true 



