1 86 LINES, SPEARING. 



the Eel will find greater difficulty in gnawing through than if it 

 were all in one. 



An acquaintance who has paid much attention to Eel-fishing 

 strongly recommends loosely twisted hair snoodings. 



Each of your leger lines should be wound on a sharpened 

 stick, which may be forced firmly into the ground whilst fishing. 



The best lines are of Whiting snooding, size No. 4 (fig. IT, 

 p. 48), and if soaked in coal-tar and turpentine, and dried, 

 they last a long time, and rarely become entangled ; but for 

 night-lines a stout line of the size of a small sash-line should 

 be used, and the thicknesses of twine as described above, or 

 twenty -four hairs. See No. i (fig. n, p. 48.) 



Large Worms may also be used, but they are more apt to 

 be nibbled by small Eels, &c., than the other baits. A piece 

 of Lamprey two inches long is good in tidal rivers. 



To keep these trots from becoming entangled, it is usual to 

 coil them in a box or Basket (see ' Trot Basket and Hook- 

 holder,' p. 143), and when baited the hooks may be dropped 

 into an old fig-drum, sewed on to the bottom of the basket in 

 the middle. The lines best fitted for catching Eels in harbours 

 from a boat are the dab and flounder lines, p. 116. The best 

 of all baits is the Soft Crab, but pieces of Sand- Eel, Mackerel, 

 Pilchard, Lugs, or Herring will also catch them. Eels are often 

 numerous in harbours which have no brook or fresh water run- 

 ning into them. 



Spearing, &c. Fine Eels are constantly taken by striking 

 an Eel-spear into banks of mud from the shore or a boat. 

 These spears are made of thin blades of steel to open and clip 

 the Eels between their edges, which are jagged to prevent their 

 slipping out. Tongs made especially for catching Eels are 

 used in some countries, and an old pair of scissors or garden 

 shears with edges notched like a rat-gin, will answer the same 

 purpose when turning over large stones in tidal rivers or ditches. 

 A three-pronged kitchen dinner-fork is also useful. 



If Lug-worms are used instead of Lob or Earth-worms, 

 many Flounders are caught with the Eels in harbours and tidal 

 rivers, whilst bobbing. 



