GRAYLING. 



*7l 



It is said, too, that where grayling are plenti- 

 ful the trout gradually fall off in numbers and 

 condition. By some it is urged that this is due 

 not only to the trout being hunted, but also to 

 some occult cause which prevents both species 

 from thriving in the same water. That large 

 grayling will drive smail trout off their favourite 

 ground is an undoubted fact. It is also an 

 undoubted fact that large trout will hunt smaller 

 fish, whether grayling or their own brethren, 

 from their feeding or resting places. It is like 

 boys at school ; the big ones will at times bully 

 the little ones, and render their lives a misery. 

 Is not this, however, equally true of all living 

 creatures in a state of nature, and is not the 

 modern teaching of natural history one pro- 

 longed series of repetitions of this propensity ? 



The late Francis Francis summarised the 

 arguments on the question in that trite and 

 pertinent style so typical of all his writings. 

 He said that, if a river is so fully stocked that 

 the food supply is only just sufficient for the 

 trout in it, the introduction of more Salmonidce, 

 whether grayling or trout, must produce a 

 deleterious effect on the condition of the fish. 

 Just as well, he suggested, would a farmer turn 

 out in a meadow fifty beasts in addition to 500 

 sheep if the pasturage would barely suffice to 

 feed that number of sheep only. Does anyone 



N 



Alleged an- 

 tagonism of 

 gra\ ling and 

 trout. 



Francis 

 Francis on 

 grayling v. 

 trout. 



