AUGUILLA. 239 



quiring manuscript, we hope to collect the facts for 

 a future period. 



In the neighborhood of Montreal, in Canada, 

 the eel fishery is conducted on an immense scale ; 

 thousands upon thousands may be seen in the pens 

 on the banks of the river, writhing and twisting 

 like so many anacondas, waiting their turn to 

 be slaughtered. They are packed in barrels, well 

 salted ; and .great quantities are also smoked, &c. 

 not only for home consumption, but for exporta- 

 tion. This part of the trade is the most intolera- 

 bly disgusting process a person of any sensibility 

 can witness. The St Lawrence eel is the conger, 

 some of which are several feet in length, and near- 

 ly as large as a man's arm. 



The Conversations Lexicon says, that there are 

 numerous instances on record of eels having 

 attacked and overpowered boys in the water. 

 In their native element, they can certainly exert 

 prodigious strength. An oil is tried out of them, 

 which burns as well as the best whale oil. 



A vulgar notion exists in this country, very gen- 

 erally, that the skins, tied round the body of an 

 individual, are powerful anti-spasmodics. Indeed, 

 it is quite common to see persons bathing, with 

 one of them twisted round the leg to keep off the 

 cramp. 



Eels are the boa-constrictors of the ocean, 



