THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 201 



CHAPTER VI. 



Observations of the UMBER or GRAYLING, and Direc- 

 tions how to fish for him. 



PISCATOR. 



THE Urnber 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 nothing but in their names. Aldrovan- 

 dus says, they be of a Trout kind : and Gesner says, 

 that in his country, which is Switzerland, he is ac- 

 counted 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 Villain^ 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 of Loire, out of whose bel- 

 lies 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 it is certain, all that write of 

 the Umber, declare him to be very medicinable. 

 And Gesner says, that the fat of an Umber, or Gray- 

 ling, being sef, with a little honey, a day or two, in 

 the sun, in a little glass, is very excellent against 

 yednesss, or swarthincss, or any thing that breeds in 



