rONuER. 403 



pointed, but find Cod, Ling sometimes, but especially Con- 

 gers, which are oftener seen amongst the deep hollows of the 

 rocks than farther to sea." 



Dr. Neill and Dr. Parncll say this species is taken in the 

 Forth, and finds a ready sale in Edinburgh market. 



The Conger is frequently caught at various rocky parts of 

 our eastern coast, and I have known specimens of large size 

 taken in winter about the mouth of the Thames. Congers 

 are caught by bulters, or long-lines, and hand-lines modes 

 of fishing already described, and the most esteemed bait is 

 the sandlauncc. " So well assured," says Colonel Montagu, 

 " are the French fishermen of the advantage derived from the 

 use of this little fish, that the fishing-boats in times of peace 

 run over from the coast about Dieppe to Slapton Bay, on 

 the south coast of Devon, on purpose to purchase launcc ; 

 and for that purpose 'alone do some of our fishermen keep 

 fine nets for the purpose of supplying bait to these foreigners, 

 for which they obtain about twenty-pence the bushel. Some 

 principal Conger banks lie off the French coast, from which 

 a prodigious quantity are taken to feed the poorer classes on 

 maigre days. 



The principal fishery for Congers in this country is on the 

 Cornish coast ; where, according to Mr. Couch, it is not 

 uncommon for a boat with three men to bring on shore from 

 five hundred weight to two tons, the fishing being performed 

 during the night ; for this fish will not readily take a bait by 

 day, and even on moonlight nights it is more shy than when 

 in the dark, except in deep water. The most usual bait 

 with the Cornish fishermen is a Pilchard. The Congers 

 that keep among rocks hide themselves in crevices, where 

 they are not unfrequently left by the retiring tide ; but in 

 situations free from rocks, Congers hide themselves by bur- 

 rowing in the ground. 



The flesh is not in much estimation, but meets a ready 

 sale at a low price among the lower classes. Formerly a 



2 D 2 



