THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. 85 



there be an eel in the hole, he will most likely 

 take it and draw it into the hole ; when he 

 has had it a minute or so, you give the line 

 a smart pull, arid if he has swallowed the 

 worm when you pull, the needle goes across 

 his stomach and forces through to the out- 

 side ; he is then fast, and you must do your 

 best to get him out of his hole. If he be a 

 large eel he will not come out until he is 

 completely forced, and in that case you must 

 turn your line a number of times round the 

 top of your rod and force him out with it. 



Another way of catching eels is by what is 

 called bobbing ; in that case, your rod, which 

 is short and strong, has at the top of it a 

 small pulley, like the ancient trolling rods, 

 and one or two rings, and your line is strong 

 cord; your bait is a number of lob-worms 

 threaded on coarse worsted and tied in a 

 bunch, with a piece of lead to sink them. 

 This bunch of worms is tied to your line, 

 which is put through the pulley and rings, 

 and held in your left hand while the rod is 

 held in your right. You then go to a bed of 

 weeds, or any place where you think the eels 

 are, and let the bunch of worms down among 

 them > when they lay hold you will feel them, 



