EELS AND I-AMPEEY8. 71 



salmon stairs, and over the mill weirs to the upper and 

 clearer water of the lakes and tributaries. This year also 

 the eel fry, or " eel fare," as it is called, has been seen for 

 the first time for a long period in the Thames. Eel weirs 

 were once common, and in many places in Ireland and in 

 the fen country they are yet preserved, and form no despic- 

 able industry. Every angler knows the haunts of the eel, 

 how he hides under big stones, in holes under a bridge, by 

 half-sunk timbers, under projecting roots of trees, and a 

 host of similar places. He is caught at night, by " bob- 

 bing," that is, by stringing large lob-worms completely 

 through with a needle, and tying them in the links with 

 a stout piece of whipcord, at short intervals. These are 

 thrown into the river, either from a boat, lock, or foot- 

 bridge, and each end is held by a person who soon feels the 

 sharp nip of the eel, who bites so hard, so tenaciously, that 

 he submits to be pulled out of the water sooner than loose 

 his hold. Another plan is to tie a series of eel hooks, which 

 are made with rings for the purpose, on to a piece of whip- 

 cord, some eight inches asunder, bait with lob-worms ; tie 

 a piece of lead or a bullet to one end, cast it into the stream 

 in a likely place, and fasten the other end by a peg in the 

 bank, or tie it firmly to the weeds, and leave it all night. 

 Another plan is to bait the hook with the worm, tie a piece 

 of stout line (I prefer the whipcord) to the hook, and then 

 pull the Hne through the top ring of a trolling or other stout 

 rod, until the bait is tight to the top ; hold the cord and 

 rod together, and place the bait near the haunt of the fish. 

 If the worm is a large one, the eel will not refuse it, but 

 bite greedily. The rod may then be withdrawn. The eel 

 is, however, not yet landed ; he has immense muscular force 

 in his tail, which can only be overcome by a steady, strong, 



