The Eel 



long-shanked hook, which is more con- 

 venient to hold the fish from wriggling, 

 and more important still, enables the fish 

 to be taken from the hook much easier. 

 When the fish bites strike hard, and if 

 hooked, lose no time in bringing him up 

 over the side of the boat. After it is in the 

 boat, before taking out the hook, get a 

 good tight grip on the body with the help 

 of the line, then slap the tail smartly on 

 the edge of the boat, which stuns the fish, 

 for the tail is very sensitive, and by this 

 means time is saved in getting the hook 

 free. 



Another species of sea eel is that called 

 the conger eel, and which occasionally is 

 caught by hand lines. It sometimes grows 

 to thirty pounds' weight. In England this 

 same fish is often caught up to seventy 

 pounds. Sea fishermen dislike to handle 

 the conger on account of its great pug- 

 nacity as well as strength. It is a savage 

 brute, with long jaws lined with long sharp 

 teeth, and it snaps viciously at everything 



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