THE COMPLETE ANGLER 187 



most excellent meat, yet it wants scales, and is, as I told 

 you, therefore an abomination to the Jews. 



But, scholar, there is a fish that they in Lancashire boast 

 very much of, called a Char ; taken there (and I think 

 there only), in a mere called Winander Mere ; a mere, says 

 Camden, that is the largest in this nation, being ten miles 

 in length, and (some say) as smooth in the bottom as if 

 it were paved with polished marble. This fish never 

 exceeds fifteen or sixteen inches in length ; and is spotted 

 like a trout : and has scarce a bone, but on the back. But 

 this, though I do not know whether it make the angler 

 sport, yet I would have you take notice of it, because 

 it is a rarity, and of so high esteem with persons of great 

 note. 



Nor would I have you ignorant of a rare fish called a 

 Guiniad ; of which I shall tell you what Camden and 

 others speak. The River Dee (which runs by Chester), 

 springs in Merionethshire ; and, as it runs toward Chester, 

 it runs through Pemble Mere, which is a large water : 

 and it is observed, that though the River Dee abounds with 

 salmon, and Pemble Mere with the guiniad, yet there is 

 never any salmon caught in the mere, nor a guiniad in the 

 river. And now my next observation shall be of the 

 barbel. 



