FISHES HUNTED IN SPORT 379 



(Alligator Mississippiensis), native to the south-eastern part of 

 the United States. The " 'Gator" is shot from the bank or from 

 a boat, and is sometimes attracted by tying up a dog as a bait. 



FISHES (PISCES) HUNTED IN SPORT 



The "gentle craft" has always had, and always will have, a 

 large number of supporters. It of course finds its highest ex- 

 pression in fly-fishing, as applied to species the capture of which 



Fig. 1268. Grayling (JThymallus vulgaris] 



calls for the exercise of patience, skill, and other sportsmanlike 

 qualities. 



Salmon (Salmo salar) and Trout (S. fario, &c.) are generally 

 regarded as taking first rank among game-fishes, and the Gray- 

 ling (Thymallus vitlgaris, fig. 1268) may also be given an 

 honourable place. H. A. Rolt's appreciation of the last-named 

 fish (in The Sports of the World] is well worth quoting, especially 

 as the pleasures of angling for Grayling are much less familiar 

 than the joys of the fisher for salmon or trout: " It is remarkable 

 what a peculiar fascination there is in connection with the capture 

 of the grayling with the artificial fly. Some men who have 

 killed hundreds of trout fall hopelessly in love with the sport 

 the ' gray lady of the stream ' affords from the very first moment 

 they enter the lists against it, and infinitely prefer the autumn 

 and winter pastime it provides to any other branch of angling. 



