BAIT FOR EELS. 159 



line full of knots, and twisting it inextricably round his 

 body. It also spares the misery of getting the hook out 

 of his mouth, when he is wriggling and slipping about; 

 besides, a large eel bites like a vice, and the angler's finger 

 is necessarily of some value to him. The plan suggested, 

 and which we have practised for thirty years, prevents all 

 these nuisances ; and, with a sharp pocket knife, or a good 

 pair of scissors, can be performed in a minute. 



The most approved method of taking large eels is, with 

 niy 'fit-lines; indeed, except by trapping and netting, there 

 are few other satisfactory methods of obtaining the largest 

 fish. Various are the modes suggested for this practice ; 

 but they all possess one radical defect, inasmuch as they 

 involve the use of a hook, with a strong brass-wire shank. 

 Nothing can be more erroneous. As soon as an eel has 

 swallowed the bait, he sets off to his haunt, or pursues 

 his course; but, finding himself speedily checked by the 

 line, he begins to struggle and strain, and finally, twists 

 himself about the line as fast as he can, striving with nil 

 his force to break his hold. Now, in this case, the shank 

 of the hook acts as a fulcrum, and enables him to get a 

 purchase, which may render his strength available; and if 

 he be large and strong, he will break this sort of hook 

 nine times out of ten, and effect his escape. 



On the contrary, if the end of a common twine line, 

 twenty yards in length, be passed by a baiting-needle 

 between the forks of the tail of the bait, and pushed out at 

 its mouth ; and if to this line a strong hook with a single 

 barb, but without a brass or any other shank, be firmly 

 attached, and drawn close down to the side of the mouth of 

 the bait, in this case, when he has swallowed his prey, 

 the eel has no leverage ; he can get no purchase whatever ; 

 and not until he twists himself all the way up the line to 



