262 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PART t. 



most other fish are, at set times ; at least, most Eels arc 

 not*. 



* The haunts of the Eel are weeds; under roots, stumps of trees; holes, 

 and clefts of the earth, both in the banks and at the bottom ; and in the 

 plain mud ; where they lie with only their heads out, watching for prey. 

 They are also found under great stones, old timber; about flood-gates, 

 weirs, bridges, and old mills. They delight in still waters, and in those 

 that are foul and muddy; though the smaller Eels are to be met with, in 

 all sorts of rivers and soils. 



Although the manner in which Eels, and indeed all fish, are generated, 

 it sufficiently settled, as appears by the foregoing notes : there yet remains 

 a question undecided by naturalists, and that is, Whether the Eel be an 

 oviparous or a viviparous fish ? "Walton inclines to the latter opinion. The 

 following relation from Bowlker, may go near to determine the question. 



" Being acquainted with an elderly woman, who had been wife to a 

 " miller near fifty years, and much employed in dressing of Eels, I asked 

 " her whether she had ever found any spawn or eggs in those Eels she 

 " opened? She sal:', she had never observed any; but that she had some- 

 " times found living Eels in them, about the bigness of a small needle ; 

 " and particularly, that she, once, took out ten or twelve, and put them 

 " upon the table, and found them to be alive, which wa^ confirmed to 

 " me by the rest of the family. The time of the year when this happen- 

 "/ed was, as they informed me, about a fortnight or three weeks after 

 '* Michaelmas ; which makes me of opinion that they go down to the sea, 

 * : pr salt-water, to prepare themselves for the work of propagating and pro- 

 " ducing their young. To this I must add another observation of the same 

 " nature, that was made by a gentleman of fortune not far from Ludlow, 

 * ( and in the Commission of the peace for the county of Salop; who, 

 " g m g to visit a gentleman, his friend, was shewn a very fine large Eel, 

 that was going to be dressed, about whose sides and belly he observed a 

 ** parcel of little creeping things, which at first made him suspect it had 

 " been kept too long ; but upon nearer inspection, they were found to be 

 " perfect little Eels, or Elvers: Upon this, it was immediately opened 

 ' in the sight of several other gentlemen; and in the belly of it, they 

 '* found a lump about as big as a nutmeg, consisting of an infinite number 

 * of those little creatures, closely wrapped up together, which, being 

 ' put into a bason of water, soon separated, and swam about the bason; 

 * This he has often told to several gentlemen of credit in his neighbour- 

 " hood, from some of whom I first received this account ; but I have lately 

 " had the satisfaction of having it from his own mouth; and therefore I 

 " think this may serve to put the matter out of all doubt, and may be 

 " sufficient to prove that Eels are of the viviparous kind," 



Taking it for granted then that Eels do not spawn, all we have to say 

 in this place is, that though, as our author tells us, they are never out of 

 season, yet, as some say, they are best in Winter, and worst in May. And 

 it is to be noted of Eels, that the longer they live the better they are. 

 Dingier** sure Guide, 1 64. 



Of baits for the Eel, the best are lob-worms ; loach ; minnows ; small 

 pppe; or pearch, with the fins cut off; pieces of any fish, especially Bleak, 

 as being very lucid, with which I have taken very large ones. 



AB the angling for Eels is no ver? pleasant amusement, and is always 



