2R4 
GRAYLING. 
This conrlition of exposure might seem to lay open the 
treasure to the depredations of a multitude of devourers; but 
observers have affirmed that at this time other fishes have left 
that neighbourhood, and it is possible that the Graylings, with 
their numbers, may have driven them away, as we know is the 
case with at least some assemblages of sea-fishes; which, without 
any obvious reason or influence, and as it appears solely by 
their presence, have expelled from a neighbourliood others not 
less individually strong. In the act of shedding the roe a 
female is attended with two or three males; and the eggs are 
not long in passing through the changes of development, so 
that Sir H. Davy remarks, about the end of July or beginning 
of August the young fishes are four or five inches long, and 
“sport merrily at a fly.” Their growth after this is also 
speedy, so that about October they have attained to more than 
half the size they ever reach. 
According to Nilsson, the Grayling, which is one of the 
commonest of the Scandinavian fishes, is met with in the North 
Sea, Cattegat, and Daltic, from which they come up into most 
of the rivers and lakes; and in Lapland they are taken in the 
high fell lakes, even so large as to weigh eight or nine pounds; 
a bulk which of itself is sufficient to raise a doubt of its being 
the same species with our own. In the Baltic they commonly 
weigh about two pounds, with a length of eighteen inches; 
which form the usual dimensions of an English fish. Some of 
these Swedish fishes remain all the year in fresh water, and 
some also are found in the Baltic at all seasons; (from which 
it would appear that they do not all spawn at the ordinary 
period;) which in that county is somewhat various, and ranges 
from the middle of October to the middle of December; after 
which they return to deeper water for the winter. In the 
spring they pass up the rivers in schools, at the time when 
the leaves are shooting out. 
Uniform testimony is borne to the excellency of this fish for 
the table; and it is therefore fished for by those who consider 
the exercise as most successful ivhen a large supply is obtained; 
and when a net is employed this is sometimes in great abundance. 
It is valued most highly in October and November, but is not 
long out of season, and therefore where it is met with it is 
always welcome. 
