THE EKL. i'21 



this sport. There are great many Bull-heads, or Mil- 

 ler s-thumbs, in the New River. I have known more 

 than seven dozen taken in a day out of this river, near 

 Ware. Some persons eat them fried, after having the 

 head cut off, and speak of the dish with applause. 

 They will answer for baiting a night-line for Eels ; but 

 they should be alive, when other small Fish are not to 

 be procured. They spawn in May. 



CHAP. XV. 



The Eel. 



The Silver Eel in shining volumes roU'd. 



Eels are found in all the rivers, canals, docks, &c., near 

 London, in great numbers, and remarkably fine in 

 size and flavour 3 they are taken with rod and floated 

 line, ledger line, night-lines, dead lines, and bobbing* 

 also with the spear, and by sniggling. 



When angling for Eels with a floated line, those 

 made of twisted gut, strong single gut or twisted hair, 

 lire to be preferred j any common rod, of sufficient 

 length, will do, because Eels will generally gorge the 

 bait and hook themselves ; put a cork float on the 

 line, and use a No. 8 hook, and bait with a piece of 

 lob worm, or half a marsh worm, or a whole red worm 



