292 



the Thames in the spring, and in other rivers the beginning 

 of summer, from the circumstance that it was calculated by 

 two observers of the progress of the young Eels at Kingston 

 in 1832, that from sixteen to eighteen hundred passed a 

 given point in the space of one minute of time. This pas- 

 sage of young Eels is called le\-fare on the banks of the 

 Thames, the Saxon word signifying to go, to pass, to tra- 

 vel ;* and I have very little doubt that the term Elver, in 

 common use on the banks of the Severn for a young Eel, 

 is a modification or corruption of Eel-fare. 



" When the Elvers appear in the Severn, they are taken 

 in great quantities with sieves of hair-cloth, or even with a 

 common basket, and, after being scoured and boiled, are 

 offered for sale. They are cither fried in cakes or stewed, 

 and are accounted very delieimis." 



There is no doubt that Eels occasionally quit the water, 

 and when grass meadows are wet from dew, or other causes, 

 travel during the night over the moist surface in search of 

 frogs and other suitable food, or to change their situation. 

 Some ponds continually produce Eels, though the owners of 

 these ponds are most desirous of keeping the water free 

 from Eels, from a knowledge of their destructive habits to- 

 wards the spawn and fry of other fishes. Other ponds into 

 which Eels have been constantly introduced are obnoxious to 

 them from some quality in the water ; and they are known to 

 leave such places during the night, and have been found on 

 their passage to other retreats. Dr. Hastings, in his Illus- 

 trations of the Natural History of Worcestershire, says at 

 page 134 : "I will here mention a curious confirmation of 

 the opinion in favour of the overland migration of Eels. A 



* A pedestrian on the road is called " a way-faring man ;" and hence, also, 

 the price for travelling by a conveyance is called " the fare." We have also 

 " thoroughfare," &c. 



