“ SUN-SPEARING.” 137 
the eel-hunter will not have to travel far for sport. 
However naturalists may decide his mode of propa- 
gation, the eel is a capital breeder; and numerous 
specimens of the larger kind are sure to be met with 
on these occasions. They would seem indeed to be 
the sole lords and masters of the lakes on fine days of 
this kind, scarcely any other fish appearing to dispute 
possession. If rarely a large trout or pike looms in 
the distance, they instantly get up steam, on sighting 
Dingey, and shunt into deep water. Our venerable 
friend the squire need therefore be under no appre- 
hension that any improper use of the spear can be 
madé in lakes under present circumstances, Trout 
and pike would seem, on days of this kind at least, 
to be perfectly competent to take care of themselves 
without the aid of the game-laws. The eel himself 
on some days, though apparently favourable in all 
respects, evinces the same shyness as trout and pike 
in a very remarkable degree. No sleight of hand will 
bring him to book while in this nervous mood. The 
moment the spear enters the water above him, he 
smells a rat, and in the next instant is “ full fathoms 
ten” out of sight in the darkest abysses of the pool. . 
There is one now, however, in our track, whose 
steadiness I would venture to endorse. The tyro 
will observe that he is in a totally different position 
from the last capture ; he is standing right on top of 
his head, and describing with his tail, in the most 
