jCHAP. TI. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 415 



Pise. Why then, by what you say, I dare venture 

 to assure you, it is a Grayling, -which is one of the 

 jleadest-hearted fishes in the world, and the bigger he 

 is, the more easily taken. Look you, now you see him 

 plain ; I told you what he was. Bring hither that land- 

 ing-net, boy ! And now, Sir, he is your own ; and, be* 

 lieve me, a good one, sixteen inches long I warrant him ; 

 I have taken none such, this year. 



'Viat. I never saw a Grayling, before, look so 

 black. 



Pise. Did you not? why then let me tell you, that 

 you never saw one, before, in right season : for, then, a 

 Grayling is very black about his head, gills, and down 

 his back, and has his belly of a dark grey, dappled 

 with black spots, as you see this is ; and 1 am apt to 

 conclude, that from thence he derives his name of 

 Umber. Though I must tell you, this fish is past his 

 prime, and begins to decline, and was in belter season 

 at Christmas than he is now. But move on ; for it grows 

 towards dinner-time; and there is a very great and 

 fine stream, below, under that rock, that fills the deep- 

 est pool in all the river, where you are almost sure of a 

 good fish. 



Viat. Let him come, I'll try a fall with him. But 

 I had thought, that the Grayling had been always in 

 season with the Trout, and had come in and gone out 

 with him. 



Pise. Oh no ! assure yourself a Grayling is a 

 winter-fish ; but such a one as would deceive any but 

 such as know him very well indeed : for his flesh, even 

 in his worst season, is so firm, and will so easily calver, 

 that in plain truth he is very good meat at all times : 

 but in his perfect season which, by the way, none but 

 an overgrown Grayling will ever be I think him so 

 good a fish, as to be little inferior to the best Trout that 

 ever I tasted in my life. 



Viat. Here's another skip-jack ; and I have raised 

 five or six more, at least, whilst you were speaking. 

 Well, go thy way, little Dove ! thou art the finest 

 river that ever I saw, and the fullest of fish. Indeed, 

 Sir, I like it so well, that I am afraid you will be 



