68 SEA FISH; 



that the monks of old were by no means ignorant of 

 their flavour, or indifferent to their culinary excellence. 

 Little is known of the infant history of eels, and until 

 found of about the size of reeds, when they are known 

 as "elvers," just as little is seen of them. At this stage 

 of growth they may be seen during the spring of the 

 year, after a "fresh," working their way in countless 

 thousands, steadily ascending the stream, keeping one 

 given line : up over weirs, amongst masses of fallen 

 rock, through shingle, up the brawling shallow, up the 

 moss at the old mill hatch, and, as the song says of the 

 grass, " comes creeping creeping everywhere." Every 

 little tributary stream thus receives its detachment of 

 youthful eels, who shelter themselves under stones, 

 amongst roots, and in holes ; and well it is for them 

 that such strongholds are to be found, as their enemies, 

 during their early days, are numerous and powerful 

 most predatory fish, its own brethren of a larger growth 

 at the head of the list ; wild and tame ducks, otters, 

 and cormorants, all seize them greedily. Their growth 

 mainly depends on the quantity and quality of food to 

 be obtained, some streams being celebrated from time 

 immemorial for the size and excellence of their eels. 

 Pew fish are so generally destructive to other breeds of 

 fish, greedily devouring the spawn, persecuting the 

 young fry, and fixing on every sickly fish they can dis- 

 cover, and the rapidity with which the presence of prey 

 of any kind is discovered by them is truly marvellous. 

 I remember, when a boy, being highly amused, and in 



