BEST TIME FOR FISHING 251 



been introduced, and more especially grayling, 

 which are notoriously difficult fish to trans- 

 port from one place to another, and require 

 extra care and attention. I think it may be 

 reasonably concluded that they have existed in 

 this country quite as long as trout or any other 

 fish. 



Perhaps the best weather for grayling-fishing 

 is a bright morning after a white frost, in the 

 late autumn, and the most suitable hours from 

 twelve till three, for it is between these hours that 

 the flies are hatching out at that period of the 

 year. I used to notice, when fishing in Hamp- 

 shire, that, almost to a minute, at twelve o'clock 

 the first batch of flies made their appearance. By 

 two or half-past the rise would be over for the 

 day, unless the weather happened to be very 

 mild, when small batches of flies would continue 

 to come down until sundown. 



Grayling are said to do damage in a trout- 

 stream by reason of their spawn-eating propen- 

 sities. I am sorry to say that there is no doubt 

 but that they do eat spawn of other fish salmon 

 as well as trout but it is said that they do not 

 eat their own. How that may be I cannot say, 

 but I know that they are guilty of the other 

 offence ; and I also know of one spot, at least, 

 where, when the salmon are spawning, the gray- 

 ling may be seen in shoals devouring the spawn. 



