Fish and Fishing 



it is best to take the skin off; by so doing, the 

 muddy taste is avoided. When caught in running 

 water or cool spring-fed lakes, it is only necessary 

 to take off the scales; for game or edible pur- 

 poses, choose, when possible, a running stream to 

 fish in. 



EELS 



The common eel is another bottom fish that 

 is caught extensively by hand lines, at evening 

 and night time, because it is nocturnal in its 



habits, sleeping or lying in the mud 

 Fish'^ during the day. It is a most voracious 



feeder, devouring great quantities of 

 the fry of other fishes. Nothing in the shape of 

 living things comes amiss to an eel; everything 

 that lives in the water it will prey upon. They 

 are very powerful and rapid swimmers, and on 

 light tackle give good sport. Eels have been 

 known to grow to a length of four feet, but the 

 average is two feet. They breed in salt water; 

 both the adults and the young ascend the streams 

 from the sea a distance of 500 miles. They are 

 often found in the long grass of shallow, running 

 streams. In such conditions they are more diffi- 

 cult to catch, and more agreeable to eat. The 



best way to angle for eels is to drop the 

 Capture ^^^^ ^^ some sandy or muddy bottom, 



always near long grass or weeds. Use 



a strong, light rod, without reel, and have the line 



tied at the tip; or if the angler wishes to play 



it with the reel in the usual way, considerable 



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