A NIGHT AMONGST THE SAND EELS. 63 



something about it would quickly be lost, and 

 most probably drowned, for though you may be 

 standing on a large bed of sand quite high and 

 dry, on looking round you will find you are 

 surrounded with water to the depth of some feet, 

 and the tide amongst these rocks comes in with 

 surprising rapidity. 



Some explanation of the way of catching the 

 sand eel may here be necessary. Nets were 

 once allowed, but these have been long done 

 away with ; a rake and a small hook, similar to 

 the reap hook, was then used ; a veto has, how- 

 ever, been put by the states on the use of the 

 rake, and the hook is now the only legitimate 

 thing to be used. Sand eel catching goes on 

 by day as well as night, but the night is par 

 excellence the best time, and certainly far the 

 most amusing where a large party is assembled. 



The hook is used in this way : You have a 

 basket opened, or rather one without a lid, the 

 regular Jersey fishing basket. This is strapped 

 on in front of you ; you then commence cutting 

 the sand before you, and the little eels are thus 

 turned, or as it were raked out. They are very 

 quick, and you must be just as active in laying 



