172 SALMONIA. [SEVENTH T>AY 



contains principally tront ; the Clun, both trout and 

 grayling; but the fish are more abundant in the 

 meadows, between this place and Downton, than in 

 other parts of the river; for above, the stream is too 

 rapid and shallow to be favourable to their increase ; 

 and below, it is joined by other streams, and becomes 

 too abundant in coarse fish. 



POIET. I cannot understand why the grayling 

 should be so scarce a fish in England. It is abundant 

 in many districts on the Continent ; but in this island 

 it is found, I believe, only in a few rivers ; and does 

 not exist, I think, either in Ireland or Scotland. Yet, 

 being an Alpine fish, and naturally fond of cool water, 

 it might have been expected among the Highlands. 



HAL. I formerly used to account for this, by 

 supposing it an imported fish, and not indigenous; 

 but, in some of my continental excursions, I have 

 seen it living only under such peculiar circumstances, 

 that I doubt the correctness of this my early opinion. 



POIET. Which was, I conclude, that it was 

 introduced by the monks, in the time when England 

 was under the See of Eome. As a favourite fish of 

 St. Ambrose it was worth cultivating, as well as for 

 its own sake ; and I think you have done wrong to 

 relinquish this idea, for, as far as my recollection 

 serves me, the rivers that contain it are near the ruins 

 of great monasteries, the Avon near Salisbury, 



