378 



THE ANGLER-NATURALIST. 



that of the Sharp-nosed species makes any further distin- 

 guishing mark, so far as they are concerned, superfluous. 



BROAD-NOSED 

 EEL. 



MEDIUM-NOSED 

 EEL. 



SNIG OR 

 SHARP-NOSED EEL. 



Eels form a very valuable staple of commerce both in 

 England * and elsewhere, being exceedingly numerous, pro- 



* Nigel, Bishop of Ely, in his charter to the monks of that place, 

 granted about, 1133, included amongst other things 23,000 eels, to be 

 taken in the marshes and waters of the manor of Stuntney, which he 

 gave them, < { and 6 fishermen with their dwelling-houses." The town 

 of Ely has been said to be named from the rents having been formerly 

 paid in eels, the lords of the manor being entitled to upwards of 

 100,000 eels annually. Elsmore, on the Severn, also obtained its name 

 from the immense numbers of eels which were taken there. In the 

 reign of Henry VII. the eel-fisheries of Sion Abbey (which are sup- 

 to have included the well-known ( Eel-pie' Island) formed, 



