166 BRITISH FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Along the rocky parts of our shore, and 

 about the mouths of rivers, where sand-banks 

 stretch out into the sea, that large marine 

 species, the conger-eel, {Conger vulgaris,) is 

 often very abundant. It is caught in great 

 numbers on the Cornish coast, by night-lines ; 

 and a single boat will often capture a ton, or 

 even two tons' weight of this fish. Its flesh is 

 principally used by the poorer classes ; it is 

 white and firm, but of indifferent flavour. 



Congers hide in the holes of rocks beneath 

 the sea, or in recesses covered with masses of 

 sea-weed, and often, also, bury themselves in 

 the sand or mud ; they are extremely ferocious, 

 and a diver, residing at Herne Bay, told us 

 that, on one occasion, a large conger, which he 

 had disturbed, swam several times around him, 

 as if meditating an attack, but ultimately, to his 

 relief, swam slowly away. It must be con- 

 fessed, that a large conger, the strength of 

 which is prodigious, and its powers of jaw 

 terrible, must be no very despicable antagonist 

 to contend with in its native element. We have 

 seen specimens of this fish eight and ten feet in 

 length, and upwards of a hundred pounds in 

 weight ; such a fish, when dragged into a 

 boat, would require both skill and courage to 

 manage. 



