148 Conger, Distribution, Size. 



Here usually they are got in the autumn or beginning of 

 winter, and seldom are above a foot or 18 inches long. We 

 know of one case, in the spring of 1870, where a specimen of 

 3 to 4 feet long 1 , and thick in proportion, was found 

 floundering in a tidal pool on the south side of Canvey Island. 

 About the Knock Buoy or from Southend Pier down stream 

 the whitebaiters annually get some in their stow-net during the 

 course of the winter season's fishing. Among others we may 

 allude to one caught in 1875, 5 feet long and from 30 to 

 40 Ib. weight ; another, a female, 4 feet long, with the ovary 

 apparently ripening, 24th November, 1899. 



More seawards, mention is made by Donovan (Brit. Fish) 

 of a Conger weighing 130 Ib. captured at the Nore. One was 

 shot, of 30 Ib. weight, from Ihe seawall, Foulness Island, 

 February, 1894. Another, 6 ft. and quite 40 Ib., was found high 

 and dry on the Saltings, Foulness, after the great storm 27th 

 November, 1897. Those fishers who frequent the Shoebury 

 Swins and Guts say they have not come across Congers ; but at 

 the Maplin Lights a smack spratting there caught one 9 ft. 

 long = 60 Ib., in mid-December, 1887, which they sold to a 

 Clacton boatman (Mr. Gregson). Nor are the Congers infrequent 

 on the North Kentish coast, a well-known spot being the rocks 

 near Broadstairs. They also visit the Blackwater, to wit one 

 6 f t. = ^ cwt., and a second upwards of 30 Ib., both caught 

 mid-December, 1887. Just previously, on the 26tb October, a 

 Conger of 37 Ib. weight was secured up the river at Beeleigh, 

 Maldon. One weighing 20 Ib. was found on the hard leading 

 to Northey Island, December, 1897. Another, about the same 

 size, was caught in the brackish water at Beeleigh the same 

 week (Fitch). At Clacton-on-Sea a specimen of 40 Ib., and 

 one 31| Ib. were found beached in January, 1885, and December, 

 1887, respectively. The above cases show they are at intervals 

 to be met with in these neighbourhoods, the same being the case 

 on the rocky ground near the Naze (Harwich). 



As to their food, those we have had an opportunity of ex- 



