146 FLY FISHING AND SPINNING 



I am certain from my actual experience that a considerable 

 falling off in the number of trout has occurred in certain 

 portions of rivers like the Test and the Itchen, into which 

 grayling have been introduced during the last thirty years. 

 Grayling certainly feed vigorously during the season at 

 which trout spawn, and are known to eat the ova of trout 

 and salmon. 



It is because grayling, when introduced into some of our 

 rivers, eventually outnumber, even if they do not in certain 

 parts displace the trout, that I regard the former as being of 

 foreign origin, for if grayling were natural to Great Britain 

 it would not be necessary to introduce them into those 

 streams in which they thrive so well. 



On the other hand grayling fishing is an excellent winter 

 sport, and rivers in which they are to be found offer a charm- 

 ing past-time to the wet and dry fly fisherman when the 

 trout season is over. 



In appearance the grayling is, next to the trout, the most 

 beautiful of our fresh water fish (see Plate XV.).f 



The grayling has a noticeable smell of thyme, and hence 

 the Latin name of Salmo Thymallus. 



Both with grayling and with trout it is well to remember 

 that frequently a fish, which will take no notice of a fly 

 on the surface, will yet come after a dry fly which is pulled 

 under the water and towards the fisherman, with a series 

 of little twitches. It must not be forgotten that flying 

 insects, or indeed any surface food, is the least common 

 of any of the foods on which a fish will feed. 



* Francis Francis says : " It is a curious fact that in good grayling streams 

 the trout are seldom of so good a quality or condition as they are in pure 

 trout streams." A Book on Angling, 1885. 



f Plate V. shows a morning catch of trout and grayling, the largest grayling 

 being three pounds and three ounces in weight, and the largest trout four 

 pounds five ounces. 



