EEL. 151 



Though eels love to lurk and hide in the mud, they 

 are averse to muddy water, because they are liable to 

 be suffocated by it. They are caught in nets in the 

 time of a flood, at mill-darns, and such like places. 



In the day time, they skulk among weeds, under 

 stones, or the roots of trees, or among the planks, piles, 

 or boards of weirs, bridges, or mills. 



The proper baits for an eel are small gudgeon, roach, 

 dace, or bleak. They are likewise fond of lampreys, 

 lob-worms, small frogs, raw flesh, salted beef, and the 

 entrails of fowls. 



The best time to angle for them is on a rainy or 

 gloomy day, especially after thunder. Your rod must 

 be strong, your line the same as for trolling, with an 

 armed hook, and your bait must lie ledger. 



Another way to take eels is by laying baited night 

 hooks, which are to be fastened to a tree, or the bank, 

 in such a manner that they may not be drawn away by 

 the eels ; or a string may be thrown across the stream 

 with several hooks fastened to it. The line must be 

 tied to a large plummet of lead or stone, which must be 

 thrown into the water with the line, in some remarkable 

 place, so that it may be found readily in the morning, 

 and taken up with a drag-hook, or otherwise. 



Sniggling or boggling for eels is another method of 

 taking them ; but is only to be practised on a warm day, 

 when the waters are low. It requires a strong line, and 

 a small hook baited with a lob-worm. Put the line into 

 the cleft of a stick, about a foot and a half from the 

 bait, and then thrust it into holes and places where he 

 is supposed to lurk; if there be one there, it is great 

 odds but he takes your bait. Some put that part of the 



