CHAPTER VI. OBSERVATIONS OF THE UMBER OR 

 GRAYLING, AND DIRECTIONS HOW TO FISH FOR 

 THEM 



PISCATOR 



THE Umber and Grayling are thought by some to differ, 

 as the Herring and Pilcher do. But though they may 

 do so in other nations, I think those in England differ 

 nothing but in their names. Aldrovandus says, they be of a 

 Trout kind : and Gesner says, that in his country, which is 

 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 then 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 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 being first 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, is not my purpose to dispute ; 

 but 'tis certain, all that write of the Umber declare him to be 

 very medicinable. And Gesner says, that the fat of an Umber 

 or Grayling being set with a little honey, a day or two in the 

 sun in a little glass, is very excellent against redness, or swarthi- 

 ness, or anything that breeds in the eyes. Salvian takes him 

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