Among the Thousand Islands. 



593 



SPKAKING EKI.S IN KKL BAY. 



u Hurrah ! a twenty-pounder !*' 



In the early spring, when the shallows of Eel Bay or other sheets 

 of water of the same kind become free from ice, the water, not 

 being deep, becomes warm much more quickly than elsewhere, and 

 here the half-frozen fish congregate in great quantities. The pro- 



ional fisherman in the bow of the boat holds a spear, in shape 

 like a trident, but with an alternate sharp iron prong between each 

 barbed shaft, the whole fixed upon a long, firm handle. Imme- 

 diately upon seeing a fish, he darts this gig at him, fixing the barb 

 so effectually in his victim that to strike is to capture him. The 

 weapon used is called a jaw-spear, from its peculiar form, being a 

 jaw-shaped piece of wood, with a sharp iron barb firmly fixed in 

 the angle, against which the eels are forced and pinned fast until 

 they are safely landed in the boat. Eel-spearing is generally pur- 

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