EELS AND EEL BOBBING 29 



don't fare to hang well " the meaning of which expression 

 will soon become apparent to the reader. 



Having sampled the stone jar and lit pipes, we unroll 

 the bobs. The depth of the water is not more than four 

 feet, the bottom seeming to consist of hard mud. Clearing 

 the rowlocks and all impedimenta from the gunwale of the 

 boat, we take up our positions fore and aft, and, dropping 

 the bobs overboard, as near to the side as they will con- 

 veniently go, commence proceedings. The bobs sink to 

 the bottom immediately, and, rolling up the slack of the line, 

 we bob with the end of the poles within a few inches of 

 the surface of the water. At first the bob is allowed to 

 rest on the bottom, but this is simply in order that the 

 exact depth may be conveniently gauged. Having done 

 this, the bob is raised two inches from the bottom and kept 

 in constant activity by a smooth, regular, up-and-down 

 movement. This causes the bunch of worms which forms 

 the bob to dilate and expand by reason of the resistance of 

 the water, and when there is any doubt as to the depth 

 we are fishing, we bring the bob in contact with the 

 bottom. 



It is not long before a vigorous tug tells us that an eel 

 is at work. As soon as this is felt the bob is brought to 

 the surface of the water with a steady, even pull, at the 

 same time keeping a regular pace upon the movement, 

 which is continued until the bob is brought over the boat, 

 and a scriggling eel, whose teeth have stuck in the worsted 

 yarn, and who fails to let go until he finds himself dangling 

 in mid-air over the bottom boards of our boat, is brought to bag. 



The bob is reinserted into the water, and as time goes 

 on we get many more bites, our bob being as often in the 

 water as it is out, but, as our friend remarked in the early 

 part of the morning, "they do not fare" (Anglice seem) 

 u to hang well this evening," and we find we do not land 

 more than one eel for every five or six bites. Besides, those 

 caught are so small in size that we decide to try our luck in 

 fresh waters. 



