15 



old "Aalegaard" — are hauled out to the base of two stakes, or to two 

 "killocks" (stoues or anehors). Here the bridge across the water is only 

 wantiog to make them "Aalegaarde" of the old-fashioned i'orra. 



7) The simplest "Aalegaarde", where the whole leader is raade of wattling, 

 and which have a bridge of stakes that crosses the water horizoutally, so 

 that the traps ("Hammene'', au old word for an eel-trap) may be tended 

 from it, are to be seen, for iustauce, at Faaborg. They are used here 

 close to laud, in the surf, where net-work would not be strong enough, 

 and where a jollj'boat would scarcely be able to live in all weathers. 

 There are uearly always rows of trajis, at stakes, in immediate conti- 

 nuation af the inner ''Gaard''. 



For such au "Aalegaard" they do not use many more stakes than 

 for one of the large eel-traps with a fixed leader, in the narrows of the 

 Little Belt. Not so, however, by 



8) the large "Aalegaarde" in Jidland, for instance at Sletterhage. As far as 

 I can see, they use here, for an "Aalegaard'' with a bridge, often as much 

 and as heavy timber as for a whole house. The "C4aard" is higher, the 

 bridge wider, and there are a great number of props to both sides of the 

 vertical stakes of the "Gaard"; probably, on accouut of the heavy sea, 

 but partly also, I think, in obedience to old custom. The dashing of the 

 waves is scarcely heavier here than at Refsnæs, HorueLand, and Helnæs 

 in Funen, where the small "Aalegaarde" can stand pretty well. 



A special form of the "Aalegaard" in Jutland is the so-called 



9) '' Sænlceaalegaard" (one which must be sunk down), which is used at 

 piaces where the waves would otherwise loosen the stakes and all the 

 woodwork in the bottom, for instance near Sletterhage liglithouse. 



As it is to be feared that the eel, on its migration aloug the shores, may 

 go iu between the shore and the traps with their leaders, tiie latter are placed 

 as near land, as the eel is kuown to go'-'). On much exposed shores, with a 

 heavy sea, where, consequently, the deeper water goes in close to the shore, 

 the leader of the "Aalegaard'' often stands on land to almost above the daily 

 level of the water. If, on the other hånd, there are low sand-banks ofE the 

 shore, so that the dashing of the waves canuot throw the eel quite up to land, 

 the leader is placed so near the shore only, as experience shows us that the 

 eels go in sufficient numbers. This generallj' means, as near tlie shore as the 

 vegetation reaches, especially the zostera. 



*) It must be lemembered that, in thesc seas, tliere is .scarcely any difference 

 between the high and the low water lovel. 



