172 NOTES ON FISH AND FISHING. 



rivers, where they are not "naturally" found, is very 

 dubious. In some few instances the experiment of accli- 

 matization has answered well ; in the majority it has been 

 a failure, though, as far as our limited knowledge goes, 

 the water experimented on satisfied all the supposed 

 requirements of the fish. A large number of stock fish 

 were put into the Thames some years ago by Mr. War- 

 burton, and the Thames Angling Preservation Society 

 has also endeavoured to bring the grayling nearer to 

 London anglers, but it is evident that neither attempt has 

 yielded substantial results, though " here and there," and 

 at long intervals a disconsolate Thymallus is picked up 

 " promiscuously " by a Thames angler, and each one is 

 more and more likely to be "the last of the Mohicans." 

 I have also among my fishing memoranda one to the 

 effect that in 1864 nearly 1500 grayling fry were put into 

 the Lea about three miles above Hertford. I have often 

 made inquiries about these grayling, but have never yet 

 been able to "hear of something to their advantage." 

 Grayling will " hold on " for some years in water they 

 do not like, for instance in a newly-made pond of stagnant 

 water, but they will not " increase and multiply " unless 

 they are perfectly satisfied with their location and sur- 

 roundings. Still there can be little doubt but that grayling 

 could be successfully naturalized in many rivers which do 

 not now hold them. 



On the Continent this fish is widely distributed, from 

 Lapland, where it is most abundant, to the " great toe " 

 of Italy ; but the same capriciousness, if we may so 

 call it, as to its choice of water is observable as in this 

 country. 



The " Habits and Customs " of the grayling are in- 



