-".'- KELT GRAYLING AX ATIIKMA. 



brilliantly with the dazzling silver of his belly; ami as 

 for his flesh, it is as hard, firm, and flaky as a t rout's when 

 in the best condition. 



Throw him in again, then, brother fisherman, till at 

 least the middle of July be turned. Whereas, if you do 

 take him in May or June, listen to my solemn anathema, 

 and let it lie heavy on your soul. May your rod top 

 smash at the ferrule, and the brazing stick in tight at the 

 commencement of your ' crack day of the season,' and may 

 you be unable to beg, borrow, or steal another rod within 

 twenty miles. May you travel hundreds of miles into a 

 strange country, find the river in splendid ply, and then 

 discover that you have left your reel at home. May you 

 bait a pet pitch for a week in order to have a stunning 

 day with your dear old pal, Jorkins, and when you step 

 out in the grey of the morning, with everything in readi- 

 ness for a slaughtering day, find your hatred and detes- 

 tation, that anathemised Tomkins fishing it, and having 

 no end of sport, such, indeed, as you have never had, and 

 hardly hope to have ever again. And now go and catch 

 your grayling in May and June, and much good may they 

 do you. I hope you'll eat 'em all of 'em that's all ; 

 and that your wife will have locked up the brandy, and 

 gone out for a day or two ; and please send for Dr. Francis 

 to administer consolation. Ha I ha ! ho ! I hate a fisher- 

 man who slaughters kelts and ill-conditioned fish more 

 than any other species of poacher going. What good 

 does it do him? He has had his sport. Let him be 

 satisfied; and let the poor beast live to grow fat and 

 healthy, and don't take a dirty advantage of starvation 

 and illness ; as a Yankee would say, there is something 

 dreadful mean about it. 



Grayling are supposed not to have been indigenous to 

 England, but to have been transplanted hither by the 

 monks ; but we have no direct proof of this, and the col- 



