THE INCALCULABLE GRAYLING 195 



The next day was on the Itchen above Winchester. 

 There again there was a bad beginning with a trout, a 

 fine fish of some two pounds, which got off in the weeds. 

 There was a high wind blowing, almost a gale, and all 

 the morning was spent on a side-stream, which was 

 somewhat sheltered by big trees. It produced three 

 trout and one grayling, the former just above the twelve- 

 inch size limit, the latter a nice fish of one pound ten 

 ounces, which fought very strongly. In the afternoon 

 I /worked my way up to a broad shallow on the main 

 river above a railway [ embankment, also somewhat 

 sheltered from the wind, and here it became evident 

 that it was another grayling day. The fish were, as on 

 the Avon, awake and interested, and, though there was 

 practically no fly visible, were rising from time to time ; 

 and, what was more to the purpose, they showed a 

 partiality for the big Wickham on a No. 2 hook which 

 I had on, taking it well and boldly. But I could only 

 get a rise by covering a fish immediately after it had 

 risen at something else. So far as I could see and the 

 light was uncertain the fish were wandering about a 

 good deal, which may have accounted for that. 

 Between two and four two brace were added to the 

 basket, all being about one pound apiece. 



Soon after four heavy rain came, and with it the 

 realization that my mackintosh was in the hut a mile 

 downstream. There was nothing for it but to shelter 

 in the little wood at the top of the water, where were 

 many gnats willing and able to do one a mischief 

 through thick stockings. At intervals, when the rain 

 slackened or the gnats became unbearable, I left the 

 shelter of the trees and fished for a few minutes, for the 



