EELS AND EEL BOBBING 33 



when eels migrate to the sea, many of them are thus taken. 

 Breydon Water is a favourite place for eels, especially during 

 the winter, when they hibernate in the mud. The largest 

 specimen recorded was taken in May 1839, and was upwards 

 of 201b. in weight. Another was recorded from the fens of 

 Cambridge, which bore down the scale at 251b. 



The other species of eel referred to is the Broad-nosed Eel 

 (Anguilla Laterostris), which is more voracious than the 

 Sharp-nosed Eel, but is not anything like so good for eating 

 purposes. These eels are also taken in the eel setts during 

 migration, but are not so regular in their habits as the sharp- 

 nosed variety, and they are more often taken 

 on eel lines and in osier traps, which are 

 both freely used for the purposes of their 

 capture. 



It is wonderful how eels will travel over 

 land from one water to another, and how 

 they will surmount obstacles which would 

 be thought most difficult to climb, unless 

 weeds, grass or moss growing thereon assisted 

 them to wriggle upwards. It has been said 

 that they will surmount sluice gates three 

 or four feet high if there is any quantity of 

 grass on them. 



Eel spearing is much in vogue upon the 

 rivers and Broads of East Anglia. During the winter months, 

 when the eels are lying asleep in the mud banks, the water- 

 men and marshmen, using a spear made especially for the 

 purpose, diligently probe all likely spots, capturing a large 

 quantity of eels, which at that time of the year are in good 

 demand at most of our large markets. 



On Oulton Broad, Breydon Water, Lake Lothian, and 

 many other places, a number of eel-spearers may be seen at 

 work almost any day throughout the winter. Standing at 

 one end of their small boats, they thrust their long spears 

 (the hafts of which are about twelve or fifteen feet in length) 

 again and again into the mud, constantly drawing them to 



c 



EEL SPEARS. 



