Tlie Eel 491 



left. On the banks of the Thames the passage is called 

 Eel-fare. Two observers, watching their progress at 

 Kingston, calculated that from sixteen to eighteen hun- 

 dred passed a given line per minute. Eennie saw (on 

 the 13th of May) a column of young eels of uniform 

 size, about as thick as a crow-quill, and three inches 

 long, returning to the river Clyde, in almost military 

 order, keeping within parallel lines of about six inches. 

 He traced it for several hours without perceiving any 

 diminution." Those that live in ponds seek the deep 

 water for their winter quarters, and sometimes bury 

 themselves in the mud at the bottom. They are very 

 tenacious of life, and will live for a long time out of 

 water; they are even sometimes found on the grass, 

 passing from one pond to another, in search, it is said, 

 of food. 



They are voracious feeders, eating frogs, snails, and 

 other molluscous animals, worms, the fry of fishes, and 

 the larvae of various insects, as well as grass and aquatic 

 weeds. Mr. Jesse states that he has known them to eat 

 young ducks, and even water-rats. 



The Eel is caught in many different ways. As it sel- 

 dom stirs during the day, the best method is found to be 

 by setting night-lines. The baits most commonly used 

 are lob-worms, loach, minnows, small perch, with the 

 fins cut off, or small pieces of any fish ; but such is the 

 voracity of this animal that it will take almost any bait. 



Spearing for Eels is a method very commonly resorted 

 to during the winter, when Eels imbed themselves in a 

 state of torpidity in the muddy banks of streams and 

 ponds. Eel-spears have usually six or seven prongs, 

 with long handles. The process consists merely in 

 plunging them into the mud in likely places, and pull- 

 ing them out again. 



There seems to be no reason for supposing, as is 

 commonly done, that Eels are viviparous ; parasitic 

 worms have sometimes been mistaken for the young 

 animals. 



The common Eel often weighs upwards of twenty 

 pounds. The flesh is tender, soft, and nourishing, but 

 does not agree with all stomachs. 



