THE FISHERY. 



505 



When the gate is drawn, the water from the higher level of the mill-head 

 or lake rushes through to the lower level of the mill-tail, and the eels 

 arc literally filtered out and remain in the trap. 



It is presumed that the large eels run down to brackish water to 

 spawn, and it is supposed that they ultimately perish there, and never 

 return to their former haunts. The little eels swarm up the rivers by 

 millions, and when a colony is on its upward migration it is called on 

 the Thames the Eel Fair. 



General view. 



Longitudinal section 



FIG. nor. Eel-trap. 



Front. 



Our eels are very excellent, and perhaps are trout-fed, as their 

 voracity for young fish is prodigious. I do not think that many live 

 in our water ; at any rate we have no evidence of it ; but I suppose 

 that they come from the waters between us and Croydon, and that 

 they merely pass through my garden in their upward and downward 

 migrations. 



Although eels are justly esteemed as a luxurious dish in England, 

 Scotchmen will not touch them on any account, and no doubt countless 

 tons are lost in European rivers which might with proper contrivances 

 be secured. 



Eels can be tamed, but they are restless and impatient of confine- 

 ment. I had a little pet eel for a long time, which ultimately died of 

 a surfeit. In a state of nature they are very curious creatures, and 



