2 OBSERVATIONS 



short time : an eel lefs than a pound will 

 gorge the baits, but what you take in general 

 will be large. You must rise early in the 

 morning to draw them, and you will find 

 such of the lines as have eels at them, 

 drawn exceeding tight ; the large ones sel- 

 dom fasten the lines, but the small ones will 

 twist themselves so fast that you will have 

 some trouble to disentangle them. Dark 

 nights in July, August, and September, arc 

 the best for this diversion. 



It may with some propriety be observed, 

 that this method of taking eels does not come 

 within the province of the angler ; I have to 

 remark, that it is the only way of taking large 

 eels, except by nets, and these are not allow- 

 ed but to proprietors and renters of fisheries : 

 another reason more forcible is, that eels are 

 transitory like woodcocks, continually mov- 

 ing from place to place, and are fair game 

 to the pofsefsor or first fortunate captor ; 

 besides these lines seldom take any other fish, 

 exce.pt eel-pouts and chub; pike do not 



