200 



fly. The grayling hatched in May or June, 

 become the same year, in September or Octo- 

 ber, nine or ten inches long, and weigh from 

 half a pound to ten ounces;* and the year 

 after, they are from twelve to fifteen inches 

 long, and weigh from three-quarters to a 

 pound; and these two sizes are the fish that 

 most usually rise at the fly. The grayling 

 may be fished for at all times, since he is 

 rarely so much out of season as to be a bad 

 fish, and when there are flies on the water, 

 will generally take them; but as the trout may 

 be considered as a spring and summer fish, so 

 the grayling may be looked upon as an autum- 

 nal and winter fish. Grayling are taken in 

 spring with the same imitation of flies as the 

 trout; and, as far as flies are concerned, these 

 two species feed alike, though it may generally 

 be taken for granted, that the grayling prefers 

 smaller flies; and the varieties of the ephemeras 

 or phryganeee, of the smallest size, form their 

 favourite food. Yet grayling do not refuse 



* This statement is made on the authority of Sir H. Davy; 

 but, although his opinion is supported by that of Mr. 

 Yarrell, we think that he attributes a too rapid growth to 

 the grayling. How is it that so many fish of this species 

 are caught under the weight of six ounces each in February 

 and March ? Surely they ought to have increased in bulk 

 during the quarter of a year that intervened between those 

 latter months arid the previous October. The growth of 

 this fish is not yet positively known. 



