THE GBATLINO. 177 



Grayling may also be caught by ordinary methods of 

 bottom-fishing, especially with gentles as a bait and 

 ground-bait ; but the " Nottingham " style is to be pre- 

 ferred. " Whipping" with gentles is also a recognized 

 method. But who would endeavour or care to snare 

 grayling with " grasshoppers/' gentles, worms, or any of 

 the whole tribe of grayling baits, when there is a reason- 

 able prospect of success with the artificial fly ? 



Here is a quaintly-worded little morsel re grayling by 

 Mr. Pranks : — 



" The umber, or grayling, is an amorous fish that loves his life ; his 

 mouth waters after every wasp, as his fins flutter after every fly ; for, 

 if it be but a fly, or the produce of an insect, out of a generous curiosity, 

 he is ready to entertain it. Smooth and swift streams enamour him, 

 but not a torrent ; yet, for this fly-admirer, there is another bait — the 

 munket or sea-green grub, generated amongst owlder trees, also 

 issues from willows, sallow, &c. Pish him finely, for he loves curiosity, 

 neat and slender tackle, and lady-like. Tou must touch him gently, 

 for he is tender about the chaps ; a brandling will entice him from the 

 bottom, and a gilt-tail will invite him ashore." 



And now, when we have hooked your grayling, what 

 sport does he give us ? It is strange how anglers differ 

 on this point, as I do not fancy the sportiveness of gray- 

 ling in one river differs much from the sportiveness of 

 those in another. Going back to an ancient and good 

 practical authority, Cotton, we find him recording his ex- 

 perience to the effect that the grayling "is one of the 

 deadest-hearted fish in the world ; and the bigger he is the 

 more easily taken ;" but Mr. Senior, a well-known angler 

 and author on fishing, says, " He is not by any means the 

 chicken-hearted brute described by Cotton." Mr. Pennell, 

 on the same side, says, "Whilst yielding to its sister 

 species, the trout, in the qualities of dash and obstinate 



