30 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 



northern fish. In early autumn they leave the still 

 deeps and congregate upon the lower running streams, 

 where the water is from three to four feet deep. Here, 

 in the wake of piles encumbered with sticks, etc., they 

 sport in company, and are to be allured by fancy artifi- 

 cials, even when there are no flies on the water. At this 

 period they afford really excellent sport when fished for 

 by the sunk fly, as well as by the other methods of ang- 

 ling for them, described elsewhere. As the year advances, 

 the vitality and vigor of the grayling increases, and by 

 the time the sharp frosts of winter set in, whenever the 

 water is in fit condition, they afford exceptionally good 

 sport. Grayling often attain a large size; they are fre- 

 quently taken from two to four pounds in the rivers most 

 noted for them, which are as follows: the Avon, Itchen, 

 and Test, in Hampshire; the Dove, Wye, and Derwent, 

 in the Midlands; the Aire and Swale, m Yorkshire; and 

 the Lugg and Teme.' This fish has recently been 

 turned into the Clyde and Tweed, where it appears to 

 flourish. 



PIKE* frequent the more shallow portions of the water 

 when they are in quest of food, as also for spawning pur- 

 poses. The smaller fish naturally throng to the thinner 

 waters for better security, and the larger fish of prey lurk 

 in their vicinity, as the vicious dog-fish do near the her- 

 ring shoals, upon the shelving strand. Pike also love to 

 be concealed in weed beds, amongst the friendly shades 

 of water plants, from which they pounce upon their un- 

 suspecting prey. In rivers and running water, like trout, 

 they generally take up an advantageous position before a 

 jutting portion of the river's bank, or in a deep curl of 

 water at a sudden bend. These places are favorite haunts, 

 and are sure to be tenanted by either large or small fish. 



* The pike (Esox lucius) of England is identical with the true pike of 

 America. 



