240 Grayling-Fishing. 



grayling are not to be named in the same breath 

 with the most ordinary trout, St Ambrose, Sanctus, 

 Cotton, and a host of other gastronomists to the 

 contrary notwithstanding. Walton reminds us 

 that Gesner says, "the French value him so highly 

 that they say he feeds on gold ; " but what of that, 

 if the French of his day were as discriminating as 

 those in ours who prefer bull-trout to salmon ? In 

 spite of all that is said of its " thymy " and its " cu- 

 cumber " fragrance, and its " firm and flaky flesh," I 

 consider even the much-derided pike immeasurably 

 its superior in edible virtues. Walton says that 

 " all that write of the umber (grayling) declare him 

 very medicinable." Possibly and, judging by his 

 flavour, very probably ; but if so, let him be treated 

 as medicine and used as sparingly. 



But I have other and graver charges against 

 the grayling. The introduction of this fish into 

 a trout-stream invariably tells most unfavourably 

 on the number and size of the tenants already in 

 possession. Were I disposed to accuse the gray- 

 ling of worrying and harassing the trout, I could 

 find ample support for my accusation in the ex- 

 perience of many authorities. To quote only the 

 late Mr Frank Buckland : 1 " Grayling, I have 

 observed in my museum at South Kensington, are 

 great bullies, and are continually hunting the trout 

 1 Natural History of British Fishes, p. 331. 



