WHERI3 TO LAY EBL LINKS. 99 



for by that hour, if Eels run, they will certainly have taken 

 the bait, and then the line, hooks, &c. are but little confused, 

 neither will a good Eel have had time to get away, for 

 they never cease trying, for many hours, after they are 

 hooked to escape, which they frequently do when hooked 

 in the throat or mouth, for by their continual twisting and 

 struggling, they rip the hook through the tender parts of 

 the throat or mouth ; but if they have it in their maw or 

 stomach, and the tackle is good, their most violent 

 exertions will be in vain. 



In large ditches that have communication with rivers, 

 and in narrow streams are often good Eels to be found, 

 and if 'not broader than the angler can leap with the 

 assistance of a leaping pole, and the said ditch or stream 

 is protected, the angler should lay his line right across, 

 fastening each end to stakes on the opposite banks. 



Note. In putting in those stakes, do not fix them in a 

 direct line, opposite each other, but a yard or more (accord- 

 ing to the number of hooks and length of line you use) 

 below, so that the line and hooks may lay obliquely across 

 the water, which allows room for more baited hooks than 

 if laid in a straight line, and also, I have found my baited 

 hooks do more execution thus laid, for the Eels run 

 more on the side of sharp streams than in the middle. 

 This way of fastening lines to stakes should always be 

 prefered, where it can be done ; for when laying at th& 

 H 2 



