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 Uke 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 Eel 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 actuallv dammed up the sluices, and had 

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