BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES 
it makes its way to the deep sea for the purpose of 
spawning, and when that all-important operation is over 
the adult Eel dies. Whilst it is stated that the female 
exceeds the male in size (the former attaining a maximum 
length of 5 feet, and a maximum weight of 12 to 15 
pounds, and the latter is said not to exceed more than 
2 feet long), I put on record the fact that I have myself 
caught male Eels 3 feet in length, and on one occasion 
1 landed a male and female within a few minutes of 
each other from the River Ver at St. Albans which 
both measured 3 feet each in length, and were about 
the thickness of one’s wrist. Unfortunately I did not 
ascertain the weight. Eels will soon smash up one’s 
tackle unless carefully handled. They bite like a ‘Tench, 
the float disappearing under water in a slanting posi- 
tion. Directly the float is out of sight is the time to 
strike, and on no account should the line be slackened, 
or the fish will twist his snaky body round any obstacle 
that comes in the way. If this happens, it is only with 
great difficulty that the Eel can be shifted from its posi- 
tion, and unless the tackle used is very strong, all is 
over. An effort should be made to land the Fel direct, 
and when hooked, to keep it in clear water, and on the 
move. Lob worms (not too large) are a good bait. 
When young Eels, or Elvers as they are called, ascend our 
fresh waters from the sea where they were born, their 
numbers are legion, and in the River Ouse at St. Neots, 
Huntingdon, I have known them to be so numerous 
that they have actually dammed up the sluices, and had 
76 
