858 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



Thus, in some oases within my own experience, I have been rewarded, 

 by the time the weird heron has announced overhead the opening of the 

 " eyelids of the morning," with almost a sackful of eels. There is no 

 monotony in the deluging rain and the darkness, there is no tediousness 

 about the intervals of sport, and, if one be plentifully provided with 

 waterproofs and creature comforts, the novelty is rather pleasing than 

 otherwise. 



Eel angling, properly speaking, does not exist, for it is almost impos- 

 sible to fish successfully with rod and line for these slippery customers. 

 Of course, occasionally, when angling for barbel in the Thames, especially 

 towards eventime, one gets an eel, or rather grig; but the fish is a 

 terrible nuisance, and has a remarkably developed and most unhappy 

 faculty of twisting the attached line up into inextricable Gordian knots, 

 and of provoking the unbounded exercise of the vituperative powers of 

 its captor. Altogether, he who would desire to fish with a line for the 

 ordinary eel must pursue a different method and adopt different tactics. 

 Incomparably stouter tackle, and much more peremptory usage than is 

 allowed by the sternest angler, are required to allow of an ordinary 

 amount of pleasure or capture. 



There are three methods of line fishing for eels : two that may be 

 practised by day, and one applicable for night work only. The former 

 two are colloquially termed " sniggling" and "bobbing." Sniggling is 

 thus performed : A darning or ordinary baiting needle is threaded with 

 worsted of a very woolly nature, the softer it is the better ; a length of 

 some four or five feet is required. The needle is run through a lob- 

 worm lengthwise, and the worm is then loosely tied in a knot. Fifty or 

 sixty more worms are served in the same manner, until the knot has 

 assumed the character and size of a ball large enough to just fit a quart 

 pot. It is then securely attached to a stout cord, and is ready for 

 action. 



A still, warm, sultry night is the best for this style. Indeed, eels are, 

 unquestionably, even more on the alert for food when an atmosphere 

 charged with eruptive electricity prevails. I have, over and over again, 

 proved that such electrical disturbance, instead of sending them off the 

 feed, rather awakens and encourages their appetites, in as considerable a 

 way as a clear moonlight night detains them from coming out for food. 

 In this conclusion I am borne out by that epitome of all knowledge 

 Shakespeare, in the passage from Pericles, Act iv., Scene 3, referred to 

 on page 342. I think if I tried I could prove the immortal bard an 

 angler ; anyhow he knew enough of fishing to be so. 



But to return to the modus operandi of " sniggling." Having repaired 

 to a still, deep corner in a boat, which is indispensable, usually, but 



