THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 87 



that they surmount obstacles apparently sufficient to 

 arrest their onward progress. They will leave rivers and 

 go over land, making their way at night through damp 

 grass, getting back to the river when daylight appears. 

 The eel is highly esteemed for food, and, when stewed, is 

 considered a dainty dish. The London market is largely 

 supplied from Holland. Eels caught in the River Bann, 

 coming out of Lough Neagh, in Ireland, are very large, 

 firm, and well-flavoured. Weirs or traps on this river 

 are very remunerative ; twenty tons have been captured 

 in one night, in heavy water. 



Eel Fishing 1 is not a very high-class sport, still an 

 angler may amuse himself in trying some of the various 

 methods of capturing this fish. The simplest and least 

 troublesome style is with the rod and line. Bait the hook 

 with a worm, let it trail along the bottom of a muddy river, 

 and when the line stops give a moment's time, and then 

 pull up ; when, if the eel is on, it may be thrown out, and 

 the hook cut out. There is no necessity to use a f oat 

 with this rig, but a few shot placed on the line, a foot 

 above the hook, help to keep the worm on the bottom. 

 Very often the eel is taken when the angler is fishing for 

 trout in flood water. Sniggling is another method, and is 

 the favourite amusement of the youthful rural angler. The 

 tackle used is a few yards of strong whip-cord, which is 

 fastened to the middle of a darning needle ; the needle is 

 thrust into a long worm until it is thoroughly covered. The 

 point of the needle is slightly pushed into the end of a strong 

 hazel or ash stick, six or seven teet long, which may be 

 cut out of the hedge. The free portion of the line is caught 

 in the left hand, the rod in the right, and the baited needle 

 is pushed down into some likely hole under the water,. 



