THE GRAYLING. 171 



the Teme, the Dove, the Derwent, and the Wharfe ; but 

 anglers are naturally inclined to uphold those waters in 

 which they have met with the best sport. Without 

 offence, however, it may be said that though the Teme 

 grayling is the best specimen of his race, the fishing of 

 the Lugg bears off the palm. 



The geological formation of the beds of rivers, which 

 of course affects the quantity and quality of fish diet to 

 be obtained, and the character of the "run " of the river 

 itself, determine to a very great extent the suitability of 

 the water for grayling. They do not like continuously 

 rapid streams, or rocky, chalky, or sandy bottoms, but 

 marl and loam combined with gravel — " happy mixtures " 

 — and streams along which sharp stickles are succeeded 

 at frequent intervals by long, quiet channels and deep 

 pools. 



As an instance of the partiality of grayling for one 

 water and their dislike of another, I may mention a fact 

 of a very striking character which came under my own 

 observation. A friend and myself were enjoying a 

 week's fly-fishing on the waters of the Pembroke pro- 

 perty round Wilton, and in the river which ran north 

 of the town (the Wylie, if I remember rightly) we 

 took many grayling, while in the river which ran south 

 (the Nadder) we took nothing but trout; but in the 

 water below the junction of the two rivers outside the 

 park in the direction of Salisbury, we took both trout 

 and grayling. We noticed the fact, and on inquiry learnt 

 that not a single grayling was ever found in the Nadder, 

 though they were fairly plentiful immediately after its 

 junction with the Wylie. 



The success of attempts to introduce grayling into 



