156 FISHES AND FISHING. 



fish, some of them may, like the common eel, be in- 

 jurious to persons of a delicate constitution ; the dark 

 flat-nosed eel, imported from Holland, is of that cha 

 racter. As to the conger commonly taken, I have 

 had in early life much opportunity of observation, 

 and I never knew or heard of any person being seri 

 ously, nay, even slightly affected from partaking of 

 this fish in moderation ; but, like all other species of 

 fish, it should be eaten as soon as possible after it is 

 killed ; or if then salted and dried, is not a bad ad 

 junct to the breakfast table. 



Dr. Pallas states, that in no river, lake, or pond in 

 Siberia are there any eels ; but there are plenty of 

 quabs. As this was a fish I had never heard of, I 

 consulted various Dictionaries, but in none of them 

 could I find the word, except in Bailey, where the 

 name is said to be derived from the Dutch, quabbe, a 

 fish ; otherwise called a water weasel. At the Royal 

 College of Surgeons searches were made in vain, and 

 an enquiry published in " Bell's Life," failed in 

 eliciting the information which I sought. I then 

 wrote to Mr. Boccius, and., he immediately sent me 

 such explanation as enabled me to refer to Wil- 

 loughby, p. 125, plate H., No. 6. Yarrell gives the 

 English name of this fish, vol. i., p, 273, " eel 

 pout." 



Eel pout or burbot has a smooth, soft, slippery body, 



