215 



This latter kind are usually put under one of the mill- 

 gates, or sluices, and receive immense quantities of eels, 

 which, during the first heavy winter floods, come down 

 the streams in their way to the sea. 1 have heard of near 

 half a ton of eels being caught in one night at the mills on 

 the Avon, between Milford and Bristol!! ! Some have 

 weighed six and seven pounds! but tJie average were 

 under twelve ounces. 



I believe it is almost impossible to get eels out of such 

 waters as have deep muddy bottoms. They burrow to a 

 great depth, and are extremely cunning when they hear 

 the spade near them. When using an eel-fork, I have 

 seen their wrigglings by the agitation of the mud, so soon 

 as they felt the instrument's approach. They are not so 

 easily taken in this \i ay as people suppose j especially in 

 soft mud. 



I have more than once found an eel some feet from the 

 water, in the night time 5 whence I am inclined to be- 

 lieve what is stated, regarding their being ramblers from 

 one water to another. They should by all means be kept 

 out of ponds where there are valuable fishes j for they are 

 worse than even jacks and perch in destroying small fry. 

 Besides, they feed principally at night, and therefore are 

 more certain of their prey. 



Large eels may sometimes be haltered, or noosed in a 

 snare, as is practised with jacks ; but it requires rather 

 more skill and judgment to carry the wire to a proper 

 depth, so as to slip over the eel's head, as he will usually 

 lay deeper than the jack, and some allowance must be 

 made for the great deception to which we are subject, in 

 estimating the depth of water at sight. 



The snare should be carried over so far as to pass the 



