Conger, how Caught j Silver Eel. 149 



amining contained small fish, chiefly Clupeoids ; other observers 

 elsewhere have found quite a variety of round and flat fish, 

 besides squids, crabs, and soft parts of whelks, &c. On the 

 S. Kent coast Congers are caught by long bulter-lines, tough 

 wire hooks, strong " beckets " (snood-fastenings), which oft- 

 times have to be cut when hooks are difficult of extraction. 

 The large fish are landed by gaff.* Congers' air-bladders are 

 remarkably susceptible to get blown during heavy frost and 

 snowy weather, and cases have occurred at the Thames mouth, 

 and off Kent and Sussex, where enormous quantities of these 

 fish have fallen an easy prey to the fishermen. Among others, 

 a Folkestone boat in January, 1855, brought in 800 thus affected 

 by the cold, and at this date some 80 tons fell to the lot of the 

 Hastings fishermen. (Buckland.) 



We reserve remarks on their breeding till treating of the 

 next form. 



(2) The River, Common or Silver Eel of Leighmen is said 

 to be exceptionally numerous on the Blyth in spring and earl}' 

 summer. Presumably they are then migrating up stream, or 

 congregating preparatory to ascent from the marshy Egypt and 

 St. Mary's Bays (Kent) or other brackish water inlets on the 

 opposite (Essex) bank. Those then caught in the trawl 

 chiefly range 4, 6 to 12 inches long. The whitebaiters take 

 some in their stow-nets, seldomer in drag-net. 



There are no regularly employed eel fishers at Leigh, but a 

 few individuals go a- fishing in flat-bottomed punts, partly for 

 sport. Some of their catch they sell, the remainder they use 

 at home. Up river eel fisheries are well known ; the Thames, 

 indeed, has always been celebrated for its eels up to London and 

 far beyond. t The Dutch eel " schuyts " make Holehaven their 

 headquarters, and send to their boats, moored off Billingsgate, 



* Big Congers are most powerful and by no means easy fellows to tackle. Buck- 

 land's version runs : " terrible things to bite sure-ly," and the Folkestone 8 ft. one 

 n /-(i, kicked up "mags' diversion" in the boat and nearly got out again. An old 

 fisherman assured Mr. Fitch they at times would fiercely rear up on deck and " bark " 

 at you. 



t See " Gleanings in Natural History," articles by Jesse, Dr. Roots and Yarrell. 



