EELS. 133 



your left hand, loosening as much as is necessary to 

 let the bait reach the said hole or crevice,) hold your 

 bait still a few minutes, and if the Eel is inclined to 

 take it, you will feel him dragging the worm further 

 in the hole. When the- Eel takes hold of your worm, 

 it immediately slips off the rod, which, as before ob- 

 served, is only made use of to convey the bait to 

 the place where you expect to find an Eel. This, 

 which is called a bite, in other modes of angling, is, 

 in this case, called a take-off, from the Eel taking or 

 slipping the worm off the point of the rod. Do not 

 check it, but give him two minutes or more to gorge, 

 then strike smartly, and you will fix the needle across 

 his stomach or throat. Dc not pull, but only hold 

 the line tight, and they, generally, soon make their 

 appearance j you then will, of course, lift the Eel out, 

 and secure him in your bag or basket. 



The best time to fish for Eels is in the day, imme- 

 diately the water is settled after a flood, and during 

 soft showery and hot gloomy weather, and after a 

 night of thunder and lightning, &c. Recollect, when 

 you have caught an Eel, to put your foot on it, and 

 sever the back bone, near the head, with a knife, 

 which completely disables him — you may then kjeep 

 the line clear till you have unhooked him ; for they 

 are covered with a slimy substance, which prevents 

 your holding them, and unless speedily disabled by 

 J cutting, as above, they entangle the line in endless 

 confusion. The month of May is the best month in 

 the year for catching Eels, from morning till nighty 



N 



