EELS AND FLOUNDERS. 141 



as it is fastened to the middle of the needle, it turns cross- 

 ways in the throat of the eel, and of course holds him faster 

 than any hook can do. Now if the eel is a pounder or more, 

 and he has got his tail twisted over a stone, or a board, or 

 what not, he will refuse to come, and it is then a clear case of 

 " pull devil, pull baker," but the string is strong, and the 

 angler has only to keep steadily pulling, and the eel will tire 

 out in a few minutes, and come out of his hole, and is soon 

 drawn ashore. I have mentioned this method because it is 

 easily practised, and a few pounds of eels are a welcome 

 addition to the angler's basket, to say nothing of the fun of 

 the thing, when no other fish will stir. In angling for these 

 fish, the bottom fisher's rod, reel, and line is used, but the angler 

 need not be particular as to his tackle, the eel is not afraid of 

 a bit of gut ; if you want to angle close to the bank, or over 

 a bed of weeds, an ordinary quill float and a stoutish tackle 

 weighted accordingly will do. The hook is a No. 7 or 8, and 

 the bait is a worm, which of course must lie on the bottom. 

 If there are many eels about, they will soon take the bait, 

 and when the angler gets a bite, he must get Mr. Eel out as 

 quick as he can, set his foot on him, and stick a penknife 

 in the back of his head, and then get the hook from him as 

 quick as possible, for if he lets the eel twist about the tackle 

 a few times, it will probably take him half an hour to untie 

 the knots, and get all ready for another attempt. Eels are 

 also caught by ledgering, or plumbing, as it is locally known. 

 A big flat plumb is fastened on the line and a short tackle, or 

 even two, being used, the bait is of course a worm. The 

 plumb is wound up to the point of the rod, and the angler 

 throws directly from the reel to any place he desires. (This 

 throw is described elsewhere. ) When this plan is adopted, a 

 "lazy back," as it is called, is used. This is a forked stick a 

 good deal like the letter Y ; the bottom end is thrust into the 

 ground, and when the angler has made his throw, he hanks 



