OF GRAYLINGS, LARGE AND SMALL 235 



Very likely the grayling weighs three or four 

 pounds for only at this season do the very largest 

 feed. She is a glorious fish. To exhibit such a 

 fish at the end of the day would, in September, 

 make your name. In June, however, it would 

 cover you with infamy. Of this the grayling is 

 perfectly well aware. 



She is quite comfortable. She knows herself 

 safe. She is in no hurry. You cannot leave her. 

 She prolongs the experience, slowly moving her 

 mouth, slowly opening and closing her gills. 



If you were not a fool and a sportsman you 

 would beat her on the skull and throw her in a 

 bed of nettles. If you were Blennerhassett you 

 would call her an out-of-condition trout. 



But you prop her up between two reeds. 



Deliberately she turns over. 



The trout go on rising. 



At last she finds the fun begin to pall, and with 

 a sluggish movement slips from between your 

 hands and sinks to the gravel sulkily. You are 

 free of her. 



Y"ou now find that the rise of May-fly is over. 



The last insect is coming down stream. A 

 large fish takes it. You throw to it. It takes 

 your fly. 



It is another grayling. 



