486 FISHING IN AMERICAN WATERS. 



streams in England, and on the continent as far north as 

 Russia, arid south as far as Italy in very many of the salmon 

 rivers and trout streams, yet it is by no means a common fish 

 in Europe ; while in America it is found in but a few rivers 

 in a small part of the Canadian dominion, and in the United 

 States only in a few streams in Michigan, as between Grand 

 Traverse Bay on the west, the Straits of Mackinaw on the 

 north, and Thunder Bay on the east. It has been discovered 

 in Au Sable River at the south ; so that it probably inhabits 

 many of the waters of Northern Michigan, and in the great 

 North-western territory it will probably be found in many 

 rivers. The grayling is also said to be numerous in Mon- 

 tana in the streams entering the Missouri River above the 

 falls. W. V. Spencer, late of the United States Army, is sup- 

 posed to have given the fish its proper name in Montana, in 

 1867. The discovery of the grayling in Montana was high- 

 ly appreciated, both because it is a superior game fish, and it 

 is in season in the late autumn, when trout are spawning and 

 unfit for food. 



For the benefit, therefore, of anglers and epicures to whom, 

 the grayling is an entire stranger, I will jot down his princi- 

 pal marks and characteristics, so that the fish may be easily 

 distinguished when taken. 



The name "Thymallus" is probably derived from its smell- 

 ing like wild thyme; and in some places where it is called 

 "umber" it is because of its color and its fleetness umbra, 

 " like a shadow." 



Izaak Walton states : " First, note that he grows not to 

 the bigness of a trout, for the biggest of them do not usual- 

 ly exceed eighteen inches. He lives in such rivers as the 

 trout does, and is usually taken with the same baits as the 

 trout is, and after the same manner ; for he will bite at both 

 the minnow, or worm, or fly, though he bites not often at the 

 minnow, and is very gamesome at the fly, and much simpler, 

 and therefore bolder than a trout ; for he will rise twenty 

 times to a fly if you miss him, and yet rise again. He has 



