A GRAYLING DAY 159 



Then deep, still water, not good for grayling ; 

 but there is a rise under the opposite bank. 

 A long cast, only an inch from the bank and 

 under some overhanging grass, but we get the 

 fly there somehow. It is sucked under by a 

 trout. I ought to have known better ; but 

 it was irresistible, and it might have been a 

 grayling (I was almost sure it wasn't, really !). 

 Back he goes, after gentle handling, and seems 

 none the worse for his experience. Then along 

 the bank, which is very wet, with about six 

 inches of water over the short grass in places, 

 and hence the need of waders. Soon we come 

 to a bend where the water is shallower, a good 

 place for grayling, as I know of old. They 

 seem to congregate in special spots. There is 

 always a big rise of fly this time of the year 

 in this river, more than in the summer months, 

 so the grayling are sure to show up soon. War 

 was waged against them lately, I know, with 

 nets and other devices ; they breed quicker 

 than the trout, and take the food intended for 

 the fattening of their betters. Nothing short 

 of dynamite will keep them down when once 

 they get the ascendancy, so my instructions 

 are to be pitiless, to disregard size, and to kill 

 every one that I can take. A little fleet of 

 flies is sailing gently down on the current, so 



