438 SALMON AND TROUT. 
Just a nip of ‘Scotch’ to commemorate the first fish, and then 
proceed cautiously down stream, trying every likely place within 
reach. Towards the end of the stream we approach a belt of 
willow trees which fringe the water’s edge. Under the shade of 
their pink roots many a lusty member of the Salmo Thymallus 
family has his home. Let out a long line as in roach fishing, and 
allow your bait to swim down about half a yard or so from the side. 
There goes your float. No mistake about that bite, as the merry 
music of your reel testifies, the fish taking out line rapidly. A 
‘ pounder’ this time, and if some of our sceptical friends who deride 
the idea of a grayling being comparable to trout, as regards game- 
ness, could witness or experience the ‘play’ of a fish like this, 
hooked upon drawn gut in the height of season, I fancy that they 
would alter their opinions somewhat. 
But the struggle comes to an end at last, and as you dip him 
out of his native element in your net you cannot help but admire 
his perfect symmetry and beautiful colouring. How handsome he 
looks as he lies on the frozen grass, the rich crimson of his large 
dorsal fin contrasting so well with his black back, and, the green 
and purple sheen of his silvery sides with the milky white of his 
belly. 
But come along ; we must waste no time, for the days are short 
at this season of the year. Past the willows we come to a shelving 
bed of sand and gravel. Cautiously now, my friend, for this is 
the best swim of all. Over that bar of gravel the stream runs into 
a deep pool; adjust your float a little deeper, and proceed as 
before. No result the first attempt ; your line is out at full stretch ; 
the float drags on account of the sudden check, and you prepare to 
pull out for another swim. But before you are almost aware your 
rod top receives a sudden jerk, and your line comes back to you 
minus the hook, perhaps the float as well. It’s no use, however, 
‘crying over spilt milk,’ and I will tell you how to avert the dis- 
aster in future. In such a place as this when the float gets to the 
end of the swim, the hook, being lightly weighted rises with the 
current, and the grayling, coming from below, snatches at it, and 
snaps the fine drawn gut with the sudden jerk. Never, there- 
fore, keep your finger on the line, also take the precaution 
before withdrawing to give a gentle strike, in which case should 
a fish have taken your bait without giving any indication 
through the medium of your float, you generally succeed in 
landing. 
