FISHES AND FISHING. 307 



Pliny, "Hist. Mundi," L. IX. c. iii., says eels 

 are found in the Ganges three hundred feet long ! but 

 Dr. H. says he never saw or heard of any larger than 

 those of Europe. 



Another species of eel found in the estuaries of the 

 Ganges are said to grow to seven cubits and a-half 

 long, or about thirteen feet ; but Dr. H. says he never 

 saw one that measured half that length. As the tide 

 comes up into these inlets, the eels taken there are 

 most probably congers, and many of that tribe may 

 be much longer than the above dimensions. 



A genus called OPHIOCEPHALTJS has a great number 

 of species ; these all afford a light and wholesome, 

 though rather insipid diet. They are very tenacious 

 of life, indeed so much so, that in China they are 

 often carried in vessels of water, and slices are cut 

 for sale as wanted ; these slices selling dear whilst 

 the fish retains life, but that portion which remains 

 after the tortured fish has ceased to live, is considered 

 valueless. Some of this species are from two to three 

 feet in length. Our gastronomists probably learned 

 the art of crimping fish from the Chinese; but ashamed 

 to act as the Chinese do in this respect, they give the 

 fish a tap on the head to stun it a little, and then 

 make their cuts, which, according to Sir Anthony 

 Carlisle and others, is useless, if the muscular fibres 

 do not contract, that is, in truth, unless the fish is 



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