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certain suitable spots, when along with it the fish are thrown 
on shore. 
Eels are numerous in the Severn, and although the fisher- 
men around Shrewsbury assert that their numbers have not 
diminished perceptibly of late years, that their size has much 
decreased, and smaller hooks are employed on the lines set to 
catch them. At the Aquarium at the “ Healtheries,” in 1884, 
I observed that they were partial to concealing themselves 
under the sand, and in December merely the heads and tails of 
some were visible, while others took refuge in clusters under 
the broad expanse of Homelyn Rays. In June silver eels 
descend towards the mouth of the river with the first freshes, 
among which the largest breeding ones pass downwards from 
the end of September to about Christmas. These are the best 
for eating, and are occasionally captured up to six pounds in 
weight. The glut-eels are a large-headed, coarse form, pro- 
bably sterile females, which travel about and attain to about 
six pounds in weight, but are not observed migrating seawards. 
During March and April they are in holes, and are groped for 
by fishermen in the river banks. Green eels are small ones of 
eight or ten to the pound. Irrespective of the foregoing, we 
have stick-eels, which are small forms descending with the first 
freshes in August, and averaging about four to the pound. 
They are also sometimes observed in June, should heavy rains 
occur. The minute eels which ascend from the sea or estuary 
are termed elvers, and are gathered in vast quantities for 
making elver cakes. Three tons weight were despatched from 
Gloucester on one day in May, 1886. These elvers had been 
protected by legislation from the times of Charles II., but in 
the reign of George III., so much of the former Act was 
repealed as related to a penalty on persons taking elvers for 
their own use only, and not for sale. But the Salmon Act of 
1861 repealed the previous legislation, and the destruction 
became so excessive that an official enquiry was made at 
Gloucester which resulted in the present law, which authorises 
their being taken between March 1st and April 25th only. By 
some error this was not made to have effect in the hundred of 
