Mr. Hatcher says that "the umber abounds in the waters
between Wilton and Salisbury". (History of Salisbury, p. 689.)-J. B.]
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Crafish are very plenty at Salisbury; but the chiefest places for them
Hungerford and Newbury: they are also at Ramesbury, and in the Avon at
Chippenham.
"Greeke, carps, turkey-cocks, and beere,
Came into England all in a yeare."
In the North Avon are sometimes taken carpes which are extraordinary
good. [Besides giving "the best way of dressing a carpe", Aubrey has
annexed to his original manuscript a piece of paper, within the folds
of which is inclosed a small bone. The paper bears the following
inscription: "1660. The bone found in the head of a carpe. Vide
Schroderi. It is a good medicine for the apoplexie or falling
sickness; I forget whether." Aubrey's reference is to "Zoology; or the
History of Animals, as they are useful in Physic and Chirurgery"; by
John Schroderus, M.D. of Francfort Done into English by T. Bateson.
London, 1659, 8vo.
When a boy I caught many of these fish in the pond at Kington St.
Michael, both by angling and by baiting three or four hooks at the end
of a piece of string and leaving them in the water all night. In the
morning I have found two, and sometimes three, large fish captured. On
one occasion "Squire White", the proprietor of the estate, discharged
his gun, apparently at me, to deter me from this act of poaching and
trespassing.
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