CHAP. XIII.] 



THE FOURTH DAT. 



243 



what snigling is, I will now teach it to you. You remember 

 I told you that eels do not usually stir in the day-time, for 

 then they hide themselves under some covert, or under 

 boards or planks about flood-gates, or wears, or mills, or in 

 holes in the river-banks : so that you, observing your time 

 in a warm day, when the water is lowest, may take a strong, 

 small hook, tied to a strong line, or to a string about a yard 

 long ; and then into one of these holes, or between any 

 boards about a mill, or under any great stone or plank, or 

 any place where you think an eel may hide or shelter 

 herself, you may, with the help of a short stick, put in your 

 bait, but leisurely, and as far as you may conveniently : and 

 it is scarce to be doubted, but that if there be an eel within the* 

 sight of it, the eel will bite instantly, and as certainly gorge- 

 it : and you need not doubt to have him, if you pull him not, 

 out of the hole too quickly, but pull him out by degrees ^ 

 for he lying folded double in his hole, will, with the help of 

 his tail, break all, unless you give him time to be wearied! 

 with pulling, and so get him out by degrees, not pulling 

 too hard. 



And to commute for your patient hearing this long 

 direction, I shall next tell you how to make this Eel 



a most excellent dish of meat. 



First, wash him in water and salt ; then pull off his skin 

 below his vent or navel, and not much further : having done 

 that, take out his guts as clean as you can, but wash him 



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