EELS AND EEL-CATCHING IN BEDFORDSHIRE. 129 



gates are an attractive cover for Eels, and help the catches 

 considerably. 



Many persons affirm that Eels travel short distances over- 

 land, but I have never had satisfactory proof of this. It is well 

 known that Eels kept in close confinement will free themselves 

 if possible, and then endeavour to find their natural element 

 again, but I have never known them leave their natural haunts 

 or any large area of water for such a purpose. In 1897, when 

 Southill Lake was temporarily drained, the head-keeper, at my 

 instigation, removed a number of Eels and placed them in a 

 large pond which had no stream flowing out of it. Some of 

 these Eels were captured for many successive years, showing 

 annual increase in weight, and practically every one was even- 

 tually accounted for. 



The young Eels enter the River Ouse at the Wash in April, 

 and reach this county in the early summer months, having 

 covered a distance of some sixty-four miles, overcoming all the 

 difficulties of weirs, sluice-gates, and other obstacles by their 

 indefatigable progress. By this time they have usually attained 

 a length of 4 in. to 6 in.* The smallest, of which I have 

 a note, being 3f in., taken at Blunham Old Mill sluice-gates, 

 July 24th, 1912, with many others of a larger size. 



The migratory Eels taken at the traps usually weigh from 

 6 oz. to 1 lb., and a few up to 2 lb. in weight; possibly smaller 

 Eels may descend, but the openings between the bars of the 

 traps would usually allow such to pass through and escape. 

 Eels taken over 2 lb. in weight are the exception, and although 

 many instances are given under the heading of those taken at 

 the traps of fish over 6 lb. in weight, I have so far not been able 

 to properly authenticate any record of an Eel being obtained 

 even of 5 lb. in weight. Large Eels are said to be very coarse 

 eating. 



Of the rate of migration of our Eels down the river very 

 little is known, but such progress is evidently slow, as their 



* " I have noticed them in the latter part of the summer at the side of 

 the Ouse near Bromham as small, thread-like specimens of about an inch or 

 more in length "(' Victoria County History, Bedfordshire,' vol. i., p. 101). 

 Evidently a misstatement of facts, as the Elvers do not enter the Ouse from 

 the sea until at least nearly three inches long. 



