LATE OCTOBER GRAYLING FISPIING. 243 



caught grayling, but with no vestige of con- 

 viction. So often does one provoke the odour 

 of thyme by treading on it in the rushes, that 

 the very smell of mint sauce with cold lamb 

 always brings a flash of some grayling day 

 across the cinematograph of memory. 



I never mind missing luncheon when out 

 fishing : but to miss tea is quite another matter, 

 so at three o'clock I returned to the inn parlour 

 and ordered the usual tray of good things, which 

 always makes one start out again with hope and 

 confidence. At four o'clock the broad open pool 

 above the hatch stile spread out invitingly, 

 though not a movement broke its surface. The 

 water was so clear that in several openings 

 among the weeds, which were hardly within 

 casting distance, I could see grayling swaying 

 as it seemed from side to side. 



The reason always given me for grayling 

 preferring the shallow water in mid stream is 

 that they are well away from jack. Certainly 

 the ones in the position I mention are there 

 from year to year, in all seasons ; and what is 

 more, they are usually quite disposed to rise 

 for many hours at a time, sometimes in the 

 morning, sometimes only during midday, and 

 sometimes just at about sunset. They are the 

 most knowing, perverse, and attractive coterie 

 of grayling I have ever met, unless it be a 

 small group near the tea house in Dovedale. 

 Report says there is a syndicate at Hungerford 

 of two pounders who have also passed a resolu- 

 tion barring artificial fly from their menu. 



