THE FOURTH DAY. 



CHAP. VI. Observations of the UMBER or GRAYLING, and Di- 

 rections how to fish for them. 



PlSCATOR. 



*T*HE 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. Aldrovan- 

 dus 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 colors, 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 't is certain, all that write of the Umber declare him to be 

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

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



