THE EEL. 69 



The Romans held this fish very cheap, proba- 

 bly from its likeness to a snake. 



" For you is kept a sink-fed snake-like eel.'* 



JUVENAL, SAT. V. 



The Conger Eel grows to an immense size ; 

 they have been taken ten feet and a half long, 

 and eighteen inches in circumference in the thick- 

 est part. The best way to kill eels, is to strike 

 them on the navel. 



The rivers Stower in Dorsetshire} AnkJiam in 

 "Lincolnshire i and Irk in Lancashire; are famed 

 by their respective neighbours for very excellent 

 eels. Mr.Po/^has celebrated the river Rennet * 

 in Berkshire, on the same account in his Wind- 

 sor Forest, 



The Ke,nnet swift, for silver eels renownM. 



In Ramsey-mere, in Hunti?igdonsktre 9 are a 

 great quantity of eels and large pikes, which they 

 call Hagest; but Cambridgeshire boasts of hav- 

 ing the most and best eels, if you credit the 

 natives. 



Eel-pouts, another fish somewhat resembling 

 the eel, but more esteemed, are also found in 

 some rivers. Their haunts are the same as the 

 eel's, and they are to be taken in peals of thunder 

 and heavy rain, when they leave their holes. The 

 best bait is a small gudgeon. Hooks, the double 

 or single ones. 



JIUTJLUS, SEU RUBELLIO, 



The Roach ; is as foolish as the carp is crafty : 

 he is by no means a delicate fish 5 the river 



