THE WELSH BORDERLAND 



and withal the impossibility of even then identifying 

 the tiny morsel which every now and again it selected 

 from the mass of stuff that came down, was dis- 

 heartening. It was interesting, too, watching the fish 

 over which a small dry-fly was being cast by my com- 

 panion : the first slight movements of languid interest, 

 as the tempting-looking imitation fell or floated over 

 his nose, and then the contemptuous shrug of the 

 shoulders, and, finally, the utter callousness displayed 

 at all further attempts. 



So many anglers have never even seen a grayling, 

 it may be worth stating that it belongs to the trout and 

 salmon family, its larger scales, smaller mouth and 

 teeth, and big dorsal fin being the chief distinguishing 

 characteristics. Its fighting powers when in con- 

 dition, particularly, I think, when about half a pound 

 in weight, are about equal to a trout of the same size. 

 In a mixed river amid lively waters it is not always 

 easy to tell at first which you have hooked. Usually 

 the dorsal fin coming above water, or the purplish look it 

 gives to the back, is the first sign, and if in the trouting 

 season causes, of course, a pang of disappointment. 

 It is surprising, however, in a river full of grayling, 

 how little one sees of them during that period. Their 

 domestic arrangements are the precise converse of the 

 trout, spawning as they do in the spring, and coming 

 into condition in September and October when the 

 water seems again peopled with them, and the trout 

 take a back seat, and to the eye almost cease to exist. 

 This makes a river where they really flourish together 

 without mutual disagreement, and both show sport 

 in their season, greatly to be desired. There is no 



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