FOREST, LAKE, AND RIVER 



In the spawning season, eels follow the fish in 

 large numbers, and gorge themselves with the roe. 

 Outside of the traps that are used in the capture 

 of eels, the favorite method with the angler is 

 " bobbing," which consists of baiting with a num- 

 ber of earth-worms, threaded on pieces of twine 

 or worsted, and tied up in a bunch. The teeth 

 of the eels become entangled in the thread, and 

 they are secured. The threaded worms are at- 

 tached to a line, and, in turn, to a rod or pole. 

 The captured eels can then be lifted from the 

 water into the boat or a pail. " Bobbing " is 

 done at night, and when from the shore, a fire 

 makes the pastime more pleasant and picturesque. 



Spearing is, perhaps, the best form of capture, 

 and the sport is at times far from being an easy 

 one. When the angler is fishing with a worm, 

 eels are frequently taken, if the bait is allowed to 

 drag on the bottom. Once, while enjoying a 

 day's angling, I was resting at noon, having al- 

 lowed my cast to sink. When I wished to resume 

 the sport, I found that my line was fast. With 

 difficulty, I endeavored to take in a little slack, but 

 gradually was able to reel in more. Soon a tre- 

 mendous commotion on the water's surface showed 

 me that a large eel had mistaken my " red ibis " 

 for a delicacy, and that he had caught himself. 

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