152 EEL. 



line next the hook into the cleft ; but however that be, 

 it must be so contrived that the line may be disengaged 

 from the stick without checking the eel when he takes 

 the bait. When he has swallowed it, he is not to be 

 drawn out hastily, but after he is pretty well tired with 

 pulling, and then you will make him more secure. 



To bob for Eels, you must provide a large quantity 

 of well scoured lob- worms, and then with a long needle 

 pass a thread through them, from head to tail, until you 

 have strung about a pound; tie both ends of the thread 

 together ; and then make them up into about a dozen 

 or twenty links. The common way is, to wrap them 

 about a dozen times round the hand, and then tying 

 them altogether in one place makes the link very rea- 

 dily. This done, fasten them all to a small cord, or part 

 of a trolling line, about two yards in length. Six or 

 eight inches above the worms there should be a knot, 

 for a lead plummet to rest on. The plummet should 

 weigh about half-a-pound, or from that to a pound, 

 according to the stream; the smaller the line the less 

 the plumb. It should be made in the shape of a pyramid, 

 with a hole through the middle for the line to pass 

 through; the broad part of the plummet, or the base of 

 the pyramid, being towards the worms, because that 

 will keep it more steady. When you have put 

 your plummet on a line, you must fasten it to a 

 strong, stiff, taper pole, of about three yards long, 

 and then the apparatus is finished. Being thus pre- 

 pared, you must angle in muddy water, or in the 

 deep or sides of streams, and you will soon find the 

 eels tug strongly and eagerly at your baits. When 

 you think they have swallowed the worms as far as 



