70 SEA FISH; 



practised. A large number of lob and garden worms 

 are to be obtained, well scoured in wet moss, over 

 which a little milk has been poured. "With a large-sized 

 darning-needle, armed with double worsted, thread 

 your worms from end to end, entering the needle at 

 the head, and bringing it out at the tail, and arrang- 

 ing the string of worms over a short piece of double 

 whipcord about 18 inches long (stretched for the 

 purpose) in loops like a tassel, until you have enough 

 to make a ball as large as a good sized orange, which 

 must be formed by twisting your double whipcord 

 and worm-loops round your sinker, which may be one 

 of the conical pattern without the whalebone, shown 

 under the head " Chopsticks," attached to a piece of 

 any stout strong line a little shorter than the rod. A 

 light pole, or a strong bamboo cane, is well adapted 

 for this kind of fishing, and saves a better rod. The 

 clot should be moved gently up and down, just touch- 

 ing the bottom ; and when, from the sharp tugs which 

 will be felt, the eels are supposed to have a good hold, 

 the clot is raised rapidly and steadily, until the eel or 

 eels, held fast by their sharp teeth, having become en- 

 tangled amongst the worsted, drop off, either into the 

 boat, or in some convenient hollow in the bank. The 

 coming of the flood tide, or a flooded state of the river, 

 is the time generally chosen for this occupation, and 

 immense quantities of eels are often taken in this way. 

 Eel baskets or hollies are extensively used for the 

 capture of eels, being baited and sunk over-night. 



