60 CHATS ON ANGLING. 



how often the fly happens to attach itself to those particularly tender 

 spots. In playing him, this fact should not be forgotten, nor the fact 

 that the appearance of the landing net seems to produce in him the 

 wildest and most frantic efforts for freedom. 



Grayling receive universal condemnation for poaching trout and 

 salmon ova, and it is only right to own that they are grave delinquents 

 in this respect. . The unfortunate ova have, however, a multitude of 

 enemies in the shape of various water birds, ducks, swans, &c, and 

 the toll taken by the grayling in proportion cannot be so very heavy 

 after all, or they would not be permitted to continue to populate our 

 south country streams, where the trout is the chief object of worship. 

 At any rate, they have no other cannibal proclivities, which is more 

 than can be said for the noble trout himself, who is a" marked sinner 

 in both respects. 



Grayling will not thrive in all streams; they love alternate shallows 

 and deeps, and are particularly partial to quiet backwaters. They are 

 very migratory, and will frequently shift their quarters. The character 

 of the river appears to be all-important in their case, and many streams 

 suitable for trout will not hold grayling. But where the surrounding 

 circumstances are suitable, and the temperature of the water is neither 

 too cold nor too hot, it seems a pity that they should not be given a trial. 

 They spawn in April, and recover their condition more rapidly than 

 trout. I do not know whether the origin of these fish in British waters 

 has ever been ascertained. They may have been brought to these islands 

 by the monks in former time, who so carefully husbanded all resources 

 in the shape of fish food ; but I have never seen or read any authentic 

 statement to this effect, and would prefer to consider them as indigenous. 



