SALMONID^. 133 



somewhat deeper in the water than the trout, and although in some streams the 

 two forms reside together in not unfriendly terms where food is abundant, such is 

 not invariably the case, as in some localities it is popularly said to bully the 

 trout : it may be that being to a great extent a ground feeder, while the 

 trout is breeding it helps itself to the eggs from the trout's redds. It is not of 

 a roving disposition and generally limits its range to within a few miles : it 

 cannot spring out of the water like the trout, consequently is unable to surmount 

 barriers, but its large back fin, aided by its well-developed air-bladder, would 

 seem to show that its formation is that best adapted for rapidly rising or sinking 

 m the water. In spring months it returns to deeper water and seems almost 

 to cease to feed, possibly due to the nearness of its breeding season. It has been 

 found to live in newly-made ponds, constructed in hard soil, where, however, it 

 is said not to breed, but more investigation is required on this question, as the 

 same was believed of the trout (see page 105) : old and muddy ponds are not 

 suited for their existence, for there they rapidly succumb. It eats insects and 

 their larvse, small molluscous shelhfish as Physa and Neritina, also Crustacea. 



Migrations. — I have already observed that occasionally these fish congregate in 

 shoals and generally drop down stream, in fact, it used to be considered that they 

 never headed up. Mr. Francis Francis (Field, May 28th, 1881) observed, upon 

 one being taken in the Anton, continuing, only a few years ago there were none much 

 above the sheep's bridge at Houghton. This year there are many in the Machine 

 Barn shallow, two miles up ; but that they should have headed up something 

 like a distance of ten miles, and out of the Test into another stream, is astonishing. 

 Mr. Brotherton, of Kelso, observes that this fish was introduced there by the late 

 Marquis of Lothian, and it appears to be particularly suitable to its habits, as it 

 is increasing rapidly, and also spreading down into the Tweed. 



Breeding. — Generally spawns on the shallows in April or May, or even earlier. 

 On February 26th, 1881, Mr. Bowie Evans sent me two examples from Hereford- 

 shire, and I found the ova almost ready for extrusion (the preceding winter had 

 been a very mild one). The ova are somewhat smaller than those of the trout, 

 and may be white, opalescent, cornelian colour, or even deep orange : they are 

 deposited on the gravel near the tails of shallows, and not in a nest or redd like the 

 salmon, trout, or charr. Neither do these fish attempt to pass up to the heads of 

 streams for breeding purposes, but choose shallow localities near where they 

 usually reside, and where females may be seen waited on by two or even three 

 males. The ova are much more delicate than those of the trout, or charr, dying 

 on the least provocation, and it has been remarked in Herefordshire that should a 

 severe frost occur during their spawning season, the succeeding year's supply of 

 young fish appears to be deleteriously affected. The body of the embryo is visible 

 in the egg on the ninth day, and usually hatches from about the twelfth to the 

 fourteenth day. Due to this rapid development, it becomes almost impossible to 

 transmit eyed grayling ova to any distance, as scarcely three days elapses between 

 the appearance of the eyes of the embryo and the eggs hatching. About the end 

 of July or commencement of August the fry are about four or five inches long. 

 In aquaria it has been observed that young salmon or trout will readily eat young 

 grayling. 



Means of capture. — Netting similarly to that employed for trout, but generallv 

 this fish is taken by angling. - Although, as has been frequently observed, this 

 fish IS to a certain extent fit for eating all the year round, it is most justly 

 protected throughout the spawning months, while during October and November 

 it is in its prime for the table. In the Test, although the Houghton Club used to 

 open this fishing from June 1st, the fish were generally in poor condition, but 

 ready to take almost any fly which was offered : but in July the case became 

 different, the fish were in good condition and much more difficult to please. But 

 it is generally considered that September and October are the two best months 

 for the flyfisher, still in November they will take a fiy or a bait, more especially 

 in Abe middle of the day, and even with a shining sun. The grayling is not quite 

 so shy as the trout nor so game when hooked: a shorter line may be employed, 

 and fishing down stream is mostly adopted. It will rise several times in succession 



