38 GRAYLING. 



CHAPTER V. 



GEAYLING. 



f HE Grayling spawns about April, making its way after- 

 wards to the tails of sharp scouers till the middle of 

 May; unlike the Trout, they do not dwell in rapid 

 shallow torrents, bat require a combination of pool and 

 stream, the former for a resting place, with a gradually de- 

 clining shallow below, and a somewhat rapid stream above ; 

 the bottom of gravel mixed with marl and loam, this being 

 favourable to the growth of the insect food on which they 

 principally live. Grayling seldom exceed three pounds in 

 weight ; when first taken out of the water presenting a 

 beautiful violet tint, \vith dusky lines along the sides, and the 

 belly a pearly white ; the tail and fins are a purply colour. 

 The best months for fly-fishing are from July to November, 

 and from then till March for bottom-fishing, but when the 

 water is clear, they will rise at a fly more or less, through 

 the winter. One essential, point is to fish fine, using the 

 very finest gut, though the Grayling lies deeper and is not so 

 shy a fish as the Trout ; as it will sometimes rise a dozen 

 times at the same fly, in as many successive casts, provided 

 the angler stands back out of its sight. 



The best Grayling Rivers as those of the Midland Counties, 

 such as the Dove, Teme, <fcc. Great numbers of Grayling 

 have been introduced into the Thames, within the last year 

 or two for the purpose of stocking that river; with what 

 result remains to be seen. Though with the great develope- 

 ment of the science of Pisciculture, and the quantity of 

 breeding apparatus at the disposal of the Thames Angling 

 Preservation Society, this beautiful fish ought in time to be- 

 come naturalized ; so as to take the place of the Trout during 

 the time this fish is out of season, being considered as much an 



