AND ANGLING SONGS. 295 



To the flowery haunts of spring 



To the angler's trysting-tree ! 

 Tell, sweet thrushes, tell to me, 

 Are there flowers 'neath our willow-tree ? 

 Spring and flowers at the trysting-tree ? 



THE GRAYLING. 



SINCE my visit to ' Drumlanrig, and the introduction of the 

 grayling into the Nith, a question has arisen regarding the de- 

 sirability of adding this fish to our river-stock in Scotland. It 

 has been affirmed that, since its introduction to the Clyde, the 

 trout of that river have shown a considerable decrease in point 

 of numbers, a circumstance traced, I have been told, to the 

 ravages committed among them during the spawning season by 

 the grayling, which, in October and November, when the fario 

 usually deposits its ova, is in prime condition and high-feeding 

 humour. 



The fact of trouting-rivers once in high repute being greatly 

 injured by the introduction of the grayling into their waters, has 

 been confirmed to me, viva voce, by the proprietor, to a large 

 extent, of one of the finest streams in Yorkshire. It stands to 

 reason anyway, that, seeing this fish and the common fresh- 

 water trout breed at nearly opposite seasons of the year, they do 

 not in other respects harmonize ; moreover, that encouragement 

 given to the grayling in our Scottish rivers amounts to direct 

 encouragement to poaching, and serves as an excuse for anglers 

 to be out with rod and line during the winter months. On rivers 

 frequented by salmon and sea-trout, like Tweed and Teviot, on 

 the latter of which attempts are being made to cultivate the 

 grayling, which, if successful, will eventually extend to its reel- 



