VORACITY OF EELS 223 



bottom, according to the depth and strength of 

 the water. Of course this method may also apply 

 to fish partially concealed. 



In sunning, as in burning, begin at the lower part 

 of the river that belongs to you, so that you may 

 again come across those fish that escape upwards, 

 and may not go beyond your water ; and you will 

 have a more successful day of it, if you wait till your 

 neighbour below has sunned his water. If the river 

 continues low for some time, disturbed fish will be 

 continually coming forward, and you may go over 

 your water two or three times at different periods, 

 till you have caught nearly every fish that takes 

 up his seat in it. 



If a salmon gets off your leister wounded, being 

 weak, you may be sure he will go down the river ; 

 and the eels will come out instantly, if it be hot 

 weather, and follow the blood : if the fish is badly 

 wounded, although not dead, the said eels will soon 

 settle the matter, and eat out his flesh, leaving the 

 skin alone for speculators to make mermaids with.* 

 You will see the eels by dozens hanging thick on 

 him like the sticks in a bundle of faggots ; but they 

 are too small to be taken with a salmon spear, and 

 do not resemble the fine silver eels in the Kennet and 

 some of our English streams, but are browner in 

 colour, and have large heads. The Scotch have 

 a strong antipathy to them, and never use them 



* Some people will remember an exhibition of this sort many 

 years ago in St. James's Street, in London. It was very inge- 

 niously constructed, though far from alluring. It was placed under 

 a glass, and created some sensation amongst the naturalists, as 

 mermaids ought to do. 



