CHAP. VI.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 269 



Pise. Did you not ? Why then, let me tell you, that you 

 never saw one before in right season ; for then a Grayling is 

 very black about his head, gills, and down his back ; and has 

 his belly of a dark gray, dappled with black spots, as you see 

 this is ; and I am apt to conclude, that from thence he derives 

 his name of Umber. Though I must tell you this fish is past 

 his prime, and begins to decline, and was in better season at 

 Christmas than he is now. But move on, for it grows towards 

 dinner-time ; and there is a very great and fine stream below, 

 under that rock, that fills the deepest pool in all the river, where 

 you are almost sure of a good fish. 



VIAT. Let him come, I '11 try a fall with him. But I had 

 thought that the Grayling had been always in season with the 

 Trout, and had come in and gone out with him. 



Pise. O no ! assure yourself a Grayling is a winter-fish ; but 

 such a one as would deceive any but such as know him very 

 well indeed ; for his flesh, even in his worst season, is so firm, 

 and will so easily calver, that in plain truth he is very good 

 meat at all times ; but in his perfect season, which, by the way, 

 none but an overgrown Grayling will ever be, I think him so 

 good a fish as to be little inferior to the best Trouf that ever I 

 tasted in my life. 



VIAT. Here 's another skip-jack ; and I have raised five or 

 six more at least whilst you were speaking. Well, go thy way, 

 little Dove ! thou art the finest river that ever I saw, and the 

 fullest of fish. Indeed, Sir, I like it so well, that I am afraid 

 you will be troubled with me once a year, so long as we two 

 live. 



Pise. I am afraid I shall not, Sir ; but were you once here a 

 May or a June, if good sport would tempt you, I should then 

 expect you would sometimes see me ; for you would then say it 

 were a fine river indeed, if you had once seen the sport at the 

 height. 



VIAT. Which I will do, if I live, and that you please to give 

 me leave. There was one ; and there another. 



