134 PHYSOSTOMI. 



at tbe same fly, and, if not touched by the hook, attempts at its capture may be 

 continued. If a rise occurs, tbe fisberman should strike gently, play his fish 

 quietly, and land it with a net, because its mouth is tender and readily gives way. 

 The flies employed are much the same as those for trout, but smaller as a rule, 

 although they will not always refuse the May fly. The smaller fish are generally 

 taken on the shallows, and with the fly which is usually refused by the larger 

 grayling. 



The larger fish frequent the deeper pools or sluggish portions of the stream, 

 sometimes selecting the vicinity of the roots of a tree which juts into the water, 

 sometimes being more in mid-water. What is termed a grasshopper, which 

 looks like a nondescript caterpillar, with the point of the book covered by 

 gentles, is considered to be the best bait in the Shropshire and Herefordshire 

 districts, and commencing to be employed about September and the two following 

 months on warm days succeeding frosty nights. Having a quill float and a 

 stiffish rod it is worked on tbe sinking and drawing plan, having sank to the 

 bottom it is raised about a foot and allowed to sink again, while the stream should 

 suffice to carry it on a little way with each successive jerk. In Derbyshire streams 

 it is said not to be much of a success. The principal ground baits are fishing with 

 gentles, worms are likewise employed. The grayling occasionally may be taken 

 with the minnow mostly in clear or else very slightly coloured water. 



Life history. — These fish are rapid growers, attaining to four or five inches in 

 length in a few months. Sir H. Davy (Salmonia, p. 188) believed that such as 

 were hatched in May or June become nine or ten inches in length by September, 

 and weigh from five to eight ounces. 



Diseases. — It was formerly abundant in the Aire above Bingley, but was 

 entirely destroyed in 1824 by the bursting of a peat bog, and subseqxient attempts 

 at reproduction have proved ineffectual (Yorkshire Vertebrata, p. 129). Mr. 

 Francis Francis (Field, December 31st, 1881) observed that, although there are 

 no very violent pollutions in tbe Wye above Rowsley, yet both trout and grayling 

 have perished from fungoid there in myriads, indeed some years ago Rowsley 

 Meadows wei'e pretty nearly cleared out of grayling by it. This fungoid disease, 

 Saprolegnia ferax, has been found affecting these fish in common with trout and 

 other forms. 



As food. — Its flesh is white, delicate, and in the best condition about October 

 and November, when the trout are mostly out of season : in fact it is not until 

 August that it is generally esteemed worth cooking, while it should be dressed as 

 soon as practicable after removal from the water. It is generally boiled : large 

 ones are said to be improved by crimping. 



Uses. — It is stated that in Lapland a substitute for rennet used to be obtained 

 by pressure from the entrails of the grayling, with which they converted the 

 milk of the reindeer into cheese. 



Habitat. — Lapland, Scandinavia, Germany, Britain, France, Switzerland, Italy, 

 and Hungary. 



Were introduced* into the Upper Clyde in 1855, from three dozen fish brought 

 from Rowsley, Derbyshire, and are said to thrive well. They have likewise been 

 introduced in the Teviot and Tweed and are also thriving (Brotherton). In Cum- 

 berland in the Eden and in the Esk (Heysham) while two examples from the Tyne, 

 presented by Mr. Knight, are in the British Museum. In varying abundance in 

 the middle waters of the Wharpe, Washburn, Mdd, Ure, and Swale ;f also in the 

 Cover, Wiske, and Colbeck, the Rye and other tributaries of the Upper Derwent 

 and the Scalby Back near Scarborough. In a limited amount in the Tees, 

 and has been introduced into tbe Esk. Formerly common in the Ribble and 

 Hodder, their extreme scarcity — if not extinction — being ascribed to the great 

 increase of salmon (Yorkshire Vertebrata). In Lancashire, the Ribble, in Derby- 

 shire and Staffordshire, the Dove, the Wye, the Trent, the Blithe and the Hodder. 



* Orkneys, according to Low, where he stated it to be common. 



f A correspondent in the Field (Nov. 25th, 1882) denies the present existence of this fish in the 

 Swale ; the British Museum possesses lour reputed specimens from that river, received withParnell's 

 collection. 



