76 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. 



of rivers, canals, and ponds, and in sandy, 

 muddy ditches, where you will frequently find 

 them lying with their heads nearly out of their 

 hiding-places, waiting for the chance of food : 

 use a stick, with a forked top, to place the 

 bait in the hole, when you will presently per- 

 ceive a bite by the Eel's drawing the line fur- 

 ther into his haunt : give him a minute or so 

 to gorge, then strike smartly, which will im- 

 mediately cause the needle to fall athwart in 

 the fish's throat or stomach ; hold the line 

 tight, and he will soon make his appearance. 

 The nearest place to London in the River Lea, 

 where much success is to be met with by this 

 mode of fishing, is at Lower- Clap ton : be- 

 tween this place and Tottenham -mills, on the 

 east side, near the Oil-mills, the angler will 

 find several holes which contain good Eels, 

 not only in the banks of the river, but in the 

 ditches, and among the osiers and willows, 



