138 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 



spawning process occupies from three to four days, after 

 which the fish return to their own haunts, and are then 

 unfit for food until about August ; during the inter- 

 vening months the spawned fish rarely take the fiy or 

 bait, and if caught in May or June should be returned to 

 the river. The Grayling season begins in August and 

 properly ends with December, as after Christmas the fish 

 begin to get heavy in spawn, a condition in which a 

 good sportsman will not kill them, although it cannot 

 perhaps be truly said that they are actually unfit for the 

 table until after the spawning has taken place. When I 

 last fished the Teme, the limit of size under which the 

 Leintwardine Club wisely prohibited the taking of 

 Grayling was 10 inches. I hear, however, that the club 

 rules have been recently revised. 



One year old fish are locally termed " Pinks"; at two 

 years, when they weigh about \ lb., they become " shot" 

 or " shut" Grayling ; and afterwards " Grayling." The 

 " Pink" Grayling have neither spots nor lateral lines 

 observable. " Shot" Grayling have spots, but no well- 

 marked longitudinal lines as seen in the full-grown fish. 

 At three years old the Grayling weighs about \ lb. in 

 average waters, and is supposed to continue growing 

 at about the same rate, viz. \ lb. per annum, until 

 reaching its maximum weight, which may probably be 

 considered under ordinary conditions from 4 to 5 pounds. 

 A Grayling weighing half a pound spawns, but a " Shot" 

 Grayling does not. 



