CONGER EEL FISHING AT JERSEY. 47 



a congering. When would you please to go, 

 sir?" 



On my giving him to understand the sooner 

 the better, it was agreed we should start on the 

 morrow, and trawl all day for fish with the hope 

 of catching the " scuttle -fish," which is the most 

 deadly bait for the conger eel. 



After having procured a sufficient quantity, 

 we were to proceed to the north of the Island 

 of Serk (pronounced Sark), a famous place for 

 conger, and fish by night, which is the proper 

 time to take these creatures. 



I never had been at this sort of amusement, 

 though I had heard a great deal about it, the 

 tackle necessary, &c., &c. It is very hard work, 

 and when I say that the weight of the leads 

 sometimes used where the currents are rapid is 

 sixteen to eighteen pounds, and the line conside- 

 rably bigger round than the large part of your 

 thumb, you may suppose that, with the addition 

 of a lively struggling conger of say thirty pounds 

 more, great exertion and also some small amount 

 of strength is required in the practice of this 

 kind of sport. The leads used are seldom less 

 than eight or nine pounds ; but they vary 



