41 8 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



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. 



VlAT. 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. 



PlSC. Oh 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 trout that ever I tasted in my life. 



VlAT. Here's another skipjack ; and I have raised five 

 or six more at least while 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. 



PlSC. 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. 



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

 give me leave. There was one, and there another ! 



