CHAPTER VI 



OBSERVATIONS OF THE UMBER OR GRAYLING, AND 

 DIRECTIONS HOW TO FISH FOR HIM 



Ufourtb 2>aI 



Pise. The Umber and Grayling are thought by some 

 to differ, as the herring and pilchard do. But though 

 they may do so in other nations, I think those in England 

 differ in nothing but their names. Aldrovandus says, 

 they be of a trout kind ; and Gesner says, that in his 

 country, which is in Switzerland, he is accounted the 

 choicest of all fish. And in Italy, he is in the month 

 of May, so highly valued, that he is sold at a much higher 

 rate than any other fish. The French, which call the 

 chub un vilain, call the umber of the Lake Leman un 

 umble chevalier : and they value the umber or grayling 

 so highly that they say he feeds on gold and say, that 

 many have been caught out of their famous River Loire, 

 out of whose bellies grains of gold have been often taken. 

 And some think that he feeds on water-thyme, and smells 

 of it at his first taking out of the water ; and they may 

 think so with as good reason as we do that our smelts 

 smell like violets at their first being caught, which I 

 think is a truth. Aldrovandus says, the salmon, the 

 grayling, and trout, and all fish that live in clear and 

 sharp streams, are made by their mother nature of such 

 exact shape and pleasant colours purposely to invite 

 us to a joy and contentedness in feasting with her. 

 Whether this is a truth or not it is not my purpose 

 to dispute : but 'tis certain, all that write of the umber 



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