THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 179 



I might here speak of many other fish, whose shape and 

 nature are much like the eel, and frequent both the sea and 

 fresh rivers ; as namely, the lamprel, the lamprey, and the 

 lamperne : as also of the mighty conger, taken often in 

 Severn, about Gloucester : and might also tell in what high 

 esteem many of them are for the curiosity of their taste. But 

 these are not so proper to be talked of by me, because they 

 make us anglers no sport ; therefore I will let them alone, as 

 the Jews do, to whom they are forbidden by their law. 



And, scholar, there is also a FLOUNDER, a sea-fish which 

 will wander veiy far into fresh rivers, and there lose himself 

 and dwell : and thrive to a hand's breadth, and almost twice 

 so long : a fish without scales, and most excellent meat : and 

 a fish that affords much sport to the angler, with any small 

 worm, but especially a little bluish worm gotten out of marsh- 

 ground or meadows, which should be well scoured.* But 



a parcel of little creeping things, which at first made him suspect it had been 

 kept too long ; but upon nearer inspection, they were found to be perfect little 

 eels, or elvers. Upon this it was immediately opened in the sight of several 

 other gentlemen, and, in the belly of it, they found a lump about as big as a 

 nutmeg, consisting of an infinite number of those little creatures, closely wrapped 

 up together ; which, being put into a bason of water, soon separated, and swam 

 about the bason. This he has often told to several gentlemen of credit in his 

 neighbourhood, from some of whom I first received this account : but I have 

 lately had the satisfaction of having it from his own mouth, and therefore I 

 think this may serve to put the matter out of all doubt, and may be sufficient 

 to prove that eels are of the viviparous kind." Taking it for granted then that 

 eels do not spawn, all we have to say in this place is, that though, as our author 

 tells us, they are never out of season, yet, as some say, they are best in winter, 

 and worst in May : and it is noted to be of eels, that the longer they live the 

 better they are (" Angler's Sure Guide," p. 164). Of baits for the eel, the best 

 are lob-worms, loach, minnows, small pope or pearch with the fins cut off, 

 pieces of any fish, especially bleak, as being very lucid, with which I have 

 taken very large ones. As the angling for eels is no very pleasant amusement, 

 and is always attended with great trouble and the risk of tackle, many, while 

 they angle for other fish, lay lines for the eel, which they tie to weeds, flags, 

 &c., with marks to find them by ; or you may take a long packthread-line, with 

 a leaden weight at the end, and hooks looped on at a yard distance from each 

 other : fasten one end to the flags, or on the shore, and throw the lead out, and 

 let the line lie some time ; and in this way you may probably take a pike. H. 



[NOTE. I do not think angling for eels worthy of the accomplished Piscator. 

 When a boy, I used to catch them with night-lines baited with large worms, or 

 better with loach, which is the best night-line bait for perch, trout, and eels. 

 When the rivers were flooded, I used to " bob" for eels, with a large bunch of 

 worms, transversely threaded through different parts on worsted, and attached 

 to about a yard and a half of whipcord. The rod should be very stoutin, 

 fact, a small pole twelve feet in length. When the eels bite, their teeth get 

 entangled in the worsted, and you must suddenly and strongly whip them up 

 ashore. ED.] 



* The taking flounders with a rod and line is a thing so accidental, that it is 

 M2 



