292 AN ANGLER'S RAMBLES 



trout, one of which betrayed its whereabouts previous to its being 

 hooked, by rising at a natural fly. 



Before leaving Drumlanrig, our enjoyment after dinner of a 

 reeking tumbler was enhanced by the account our entertainer 

 gave us of his progress, so far, towards the introduction of the 

 grayling to Dumfriesshire. As regards the first step, the great 

 secret of success in connexion with the experiment lies in the 

 keeping up of the supply of pure air in the transporting medium. 

 It is now indeed well known how necessary, in a greater or less 

 degree, to the existence of fishes, especially the Salmonidce, is 

 the oxygenic constituent, and how quickly, through the action of 

 their respiratory organs, the element they live in is liable to 

 become deprived of it. In the transportation of the finny tribe 

 in their live state, the employment of the air-pump as an adjunct 

 to the vessel containing the specimens under way may hence- 

 forth be considered as indispensable. The success met with by 

 Mr. Shaw in the safe conveyance of the grayling, was capped, as 

 is pretty well known to those who take an interest in such mat- 

 ters, by the more important one of obtaining a hatch or breed. 

 The paired fish, on being brought to Drumlanrig, were committed 

 to a carefully -selected and well- secured spot in a rivulet passing 

 through the policy-grounds, where they shortly afterwards com- 

 menced breeding operations, and in due time the infant broods 

 discovered themselves. Several specimens, bottled in spirits of 

 wine, were set before us, of the hatch referred to. They were 

 about an inch and a half or nearly two inches in length, and, so 

 far as I could judge, not more than six weeks old. 



That the grayling will thrive, and eventually become plentiful 

 in the Nith, I am by no means sanguine. The adaptation of that 

 river to its requirements certainly does not discover itself to the 

 casual visitor. Mr. Shaw, however, looked forward to success 

 with strong confidence, an clement which, in an experiment of 

 this sort, is absolutely essential. If pisciculture, in fact, is to 



