34 PKACTICAL FLY-FISHEB. 



geological character of the bed of the river influences them. They 

 seldom get to a great size in rocky or gravelly streams, but require 

 a combination of sand and loam. In most rivers where they attain 

 a large size, the current is never very rapid, but is generally found 

 to be a combination of pool and stream ; and the vegetation on the 

 bank of the river seems to exert a particular influence over them, 

 as they seldom thrive in any stream running through a barren 

 district ; this may be accounted for to a certain extent by the want 

 of insect life, to be found in such situations. 



It would therefore seem that a good Grayling river should have 

 four requisites ; 1st, a moderately warm temperature of the 

 external air and the water : 2nd, a particular chemical constitution 

 of the water : 3rd, a mixture of pool and stream : and 4th, a 

 cultivated country through which it runs. In the Aire, Wharfe, 

 and the Rye, these are to be found ; but more particularly in the 

 Eye, which is the best Grayling river I know. It is one continua- 

 tion of pool and stream, and in fact contains all the advantages I 

 have just mentioned. I shall return to a description of those 

 streams in the course of this chapter . 



Not only do we find the Grayling occupy a different portion of 

 the stream, but his habits of feeding differ from those of the Trout ; 

 he is seldom taken in the rough and rapid streams, but more 

 generally in the still water, or eddies by the side of them. Their 

 favourite places for feeding would seem to be either in the slow 

 current of the p.ool, or at the tail of the pool where it begins 

 to run shallow. In fishing up stream, and with very fine tackle, 

 either finely shaved gut or single hair should be employed. The 

 tail of the pool, especially if rippled by wind, is my favourite 

 resort for Grayling. 



The Grayling seems to rise at the fly with great rapidity, but 

 yet takes the fly much more quietly and silently than the Trout, 

 scarcely breaking the surface of the water. He feeds more especially 

 on Small Duns and Gnats, but I have caught many Grayling with 



