350 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



efforts of the eel rendered his footing so precarious that rather than 

 have a second ducking he was reluctantly obliged to drop it into the 

 water." Mr. Pennell also quotes another example which clearly shows 

 that animals of this species have a strong predilection for fish. A Mr. 

 Banister regrets finding that polecats are also fond of eels. His report 

 is to be found in the Zoologist for 1846. He observes : " We have 

 polecats abundant in Pilling during the whole year, and in the winter 

 season, when the water in the ditches and the main drains is chiefly 

 congealed, and more especially when the ice is covered with snow, the 

 footprints of the polecats may be traced on the ice, and the most 

 indubitable evidence is thus offered of its predilection for fish. Under 

 such circumstances I have repeatedly ascertained that this animal is a 

 most expert fisherman, for in severe and long continued frosts many eels 

 ascend out of open drains, and, as these watercourses are most slightly 

 frozen over near the springs, the polecats, either by instinct or otherwise, 

 discover the retreat of the eels. In tracing the footprints of the pole- 

 cat, it will soon be ascertained that he halts at every hole or opening 

 he meets in the ice, and at once commences fishing by introducing a 

 forefoot into the water, and no doubt groping all round under the ice 

 as far as he can reach in search of such eels as may come to the aper- 

 ture for air. That he uses his forepaws in this manner is distinctly 

 proved by his dirty footmarks afterwards in the snow." As eels are 

 often to be seen coming to the surface of the water at any aperture for 

 air when the water is frozen, this incident may be credited to the full. 

 Herons are also fond of eels, but the battle is not always to the strong. 

 Couch mentions that more than one instance is known in which, while 

 its fearful bill has pierced the body of its prey, the agony of the fish 

 has caused it to twine itself round the neck of its foe and hinder its 

 flight or cause its death. This author also remarks that "A contest 

 between a cormorant and an eel for life and victory is not a little 

 interesting, and the more so as an active eel is not easily persuaded 

 to pass into or remain in the capacious stomach of its foe. A cor- 

 morant was seen with its throat and neck much distended; but ob- 

 serving that itself was closely watched, it endeavoured to get to a 

 distance, in doing which its efforts to retain or swallow the prize appear 

 to have become relaxed, which the eel seized the advantage of and 

 escaped from its jaws with great activity. The bird immediately dived 

 after it and brought the captive to the surface, but experience had taught 

 the lesson that something further was needed before another attempt 

 should be made ^g gulp down its prey. Violent and repeated pecks were 

 made by the powerful bill along the length of the fish, and then, supposing 

 it to be sufficiently disabled, it was taken up and held across the mouth 



