234 AN ANGLER AT LARGE 



land. Landed, they take an eternity to un- 

 hook. 



Some liar once said that the grayling has a 

 tender mouth. Everyone who has since treated 

 of this fish has repeated the lie. I shall not. The 

 grayling has a mouth like an umbrella ring. Once 

 your hook is embedded there it is almost impos- 

 sible to get it out. By the time you have got it 

 out the grayling is practically dead. But not 

 absolutely. If she were, there would be com- 

 paratively little to worry you. You would only 

 have a grayling on your conscience. 



But it is June. 



It becomes necessary to restore your grayling 

 to life. 



Therefore, while the great trouts rise all about 

 you, gulping down the May-flies, you grovel on 

 your belly, and nurse your capture back to con- 

 sciousness. 



You hold her head up stream and you wave her 

 about in the water for several minutes, while she 

 moves her mouth and her gills slowly, deliberately. 

 Then you let her go. Instantly she turns upside 

 down and begins to float away. Her eye meets 

 yours glassily, reproachfully. Her martyred air 

 distracts you. You scoop her out with the net 

 and repeat the performance. 



The trouts go on rising busily. 



