1 88 Fly Fishing for Grayling, 



an enormous dorsal fin. This fish seems to combine 

 the courage, etc., of the trout with the pluck and 

 obstinacy of its own species. Dr. Richardson 

 observes that it is only found in clear waters, 

 and seems to delight in the most rapid mountain 

 streams. He says : '' In the autumn of 1820 we ob- 

 tained many by angling in a rapid of the Winter 

 River, opposite to Fort Enterprise. The sport was 

 excellent, for this grayling generally springs entirely 

 out of the water when first struck by the hook, 

 and tugs strongly at the line, requiring as much 

 dexterity to land it safely as it would to secure a 

 trout of six times its size. This grayling grows 

 to the weight of five or six pounds." 



The grayling appears to have received its name 

 Thymalliis from the odour of the fish when first taken 

 out of the water. Some people are unable to dis- 

 tinguish this peculiar smell (as Houghton, for in- 

 stance, in his "• Fresh Water Fishes ") but it is unmis- 

 takable. I have caught hundreds of grayling and 

 have never found it absent in any fish over half a 

 pound. But it is more like the smell of cucumber 

 than thyme, much the same as that which emanates 

 from the smelt. 



The grayling is supposed to have been imported 

 into this country by the monks, as it is found in 

 rivers on which the great monasteries are built. 



But this is exceedingly doubtful, as it is a fish 



