THE EEL. 275 



Holland having five vessels each ; these vessels are built with a 

 capacious well, in which large quantities of eels are preserved 

 alive until wanted. One or more of these vessels may be con- 

 stantly seen lying off Billingsgate ; the others go to Holland 

 for fresh supplies, each bringing a cargo of 15,000 to 20,000 

 pounds' weight of live eels, for which the Dutch merchant pays 

 a duty of jC13 per cargo for permission to sell." 



Their serpentine form has rendered them objects of dislike in 

 this country among some people. The fair sex, in particular, 

 have a great aversion to them from their resemblance to the 

 snake. But all objections are removed when they are brought 

 upon the table as an article of food. The New York market 

 is abundantly supplied by the fishermen from Long Island and 

 adjacent places. Being easily taken, and found in great abun- 

 dance, they furnish a cheap and healthy food for the poorer 

 class of people. In some parts of the country where they are 

 taken in fresh water, they are held in high estimation, and are 

 made the object of sport by the young fishermen, by night and 

 day, with bobs, eel pots, and spears. 



A singular practice was in vogue at Catherine Market, foot 

 of Catherine Street, New York, some years ago. The fish 

 markets, as usual in large cities, were open on Sunday morning, 

 in the summer season, for a few hours after sunrise. At the 

 above-mentioned market the negroes used to gather from all 

 parts of the city to the skinning, immense quantities being 

 brought in for that purpose. After the operation was performed 

 and the fish were tied into bundles, certain lots were purchased 

 by the lovers of fun, to be danced for by the negroes. The 

 ceremony of dancing for eels was performed with great skill 

 and dexterity by the sons of Afric's soil upon an ordinary 

 shingle, brought by each competitor for that purpose. The 

 spectacle was witnessed by hundreds of lookers-on, composed 

 of all classes of people, who expressed their satisfaction and 





