SOME BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES 207 



clots (fifty) of large worms strung together, secured 

 with worsted and attached to a 12-foot length 

 of whip-cord and short pole, which did duty as 

 a fishing-rod. The clot I let down to the bottom, 

 and every two or three seconds lifted it up, as in 

 sea-fishing. After a vigorous tug, up came a 

 lamprey, with its teeth entangled in the worsted. 

 Just as it was about to fall off I deposited it in 

 a box by my side. 



With an eel-spear made of thin blades of steel, 

 which opened and retained the fish between their 

 serrated edges, I used to harpoon lampreys as they 

 lay at the bottom with their heads firmly attached 

 to the rocks and stones. But it was an uncertain 

 way of getting them, as the undulations of their 

 bodies rendered it difficult to take correct aim. 



