THE COMPLETE AiNGLER. 



179 



you that eels do not usually stir in the day-time, for then they 

 hide themselves under some covert, or under boards or planks 

 about flood gates, or wears, or mills, or in iioles in the river 

 banks ; so that you observing your time in a warm day, when 

 the water is lowest, may take a strong small hook, tied to a strong 

 line, or to a string about a yard long : and then into one of these 

 holes, or between any boards about a mill, or under any great 

 stone or plank, or any place where you think an eel may hide or 

 shelter herself, you may with the help of a short stick put in 

 your bait, but leisurely, and as far as you may conveniently ; 

 and it is scarce to be doubted, but that if there be an eel within 

 the sight of it, the eel will bito instantly, and as certainly gorge 

 it : and you need not doubt to have him, if you pull him not out 

 of the hole too quickly, but pull him out by degrees ; for he lying 

 folded double in his hole, will with the help of his tail break all, 

 unless you give him time to be wearied with pulling, and so get 

 him out by degrees, not pulling too hard. 



And to commute for your patient hearing this long direction, I 

 shall next tell vou how to make this Eel 







a most excellent dish of meat. 



First, wash him in water and salt, then pull off his skin below 

 h's vent or navel, and not much further ; having done that, take 

 out his guts as clean as you can, but wash him not : then give 

 him three or four scotches with a knife, and then put into his 

 belly and those scotches, sweet herbs, an anchovy, and a little 

 nutmeg grated, or cut very small ; and your herbs and anclio- 



