IN THE SEASON OF MISTS. 51 



whereas fish of ijlb,, 2^1b., and even 3lb. are frequently taken from 

 the former streams. But the beauty and symmetry of the northern 

 fish have compensated us, in some measure, for their lack of weight. 



Then we ponder the improvements in tackle and methods 

 which have been made during the years that trout and grayling 

 have frequented the same streams, and we recall the fact that 

 grayling are said to have been introduced from the Continent by 

 monks. And, though some of us are sceptical of this tradition, we 

 agree, nevertheless, that this association with the jovial monks of 

 old adds a touch of picturesqueness, at least, to a branch of angling 

 already sufficiently attractive. 



The catalogue of flies that we have used at various times and 

 on manifold streams surprises us by its length. Duns, Quills and 

 Bumbles, Wickham's Fancy, Willow, Little Chap, Witch, Dazzler, 

 Gem, Bradshaw's Fancy, Red Tag, Needle, and many others have 

 we presented, successfully or otherwise, to " her ladyship." 



We pause to recall the days upon which Thymallus showed 

 herself in her most freakish moods when by her fickleness she 

 tantalised us to the extreme limit of our patience. 



In the first place, we have ever found her to be a quicker riser 

 than the trout. When feeding she lies low down in the water, 

 from which position she is able, by means of her huge dorsal fin 

 and large air-bladder, to ascend quickly to the surface. Her sudden 

 dart from below occasionally results in her missing the fly ; and the 

 peculiar shape of her mouth, together with her curious way of rising, 

 sometimes renders her difficult to hook securely. Hence, if she 

 chances to escape ere we bring her to the net, is it not because, for 

 reasons aforesaid, she has not been fairly and squarely hooked ? 

 Our forefathers believed that the grayling's tender mouth accounted 

 for her so often parting company with the angler ; but, at the pre- 

 sent day, it is known that certain portions of her mouth only are 

 tender, and our personal experience has proved that the difficulty 

 of landing her has been somewhat exaggerated. 



We have found, of course, that the grayling, unlike the trout, 

 is gregarious ; and also that she lacks one of the characteristics of 



