COMMON EEL. 19 



Silesia, &c. In Jutland it is said that 2000 have 

 been taken at a single sweep of the net. In the 

 Garonne 60,000 are said to have been taken in one 

 day by a single net. As a food the Eel is by the 

 general run of medical writers rather eohdemned 

 than recommended : it appears however to be highly 

 nutritious, and is probably only hurtful when taken 

 to excess*. 



The general size of the Eel is from two to three 

 feet, but it is sometimes said, though very rarely, to 

 attain to the length of six feet and to the weight of 

 twenty pounds. It is a fish of slow growth, and is 

 supposed to live to a very considerable age, 



* That well-known old Manual the Schola Saleraitana declares 

 the eating of eels to be hurtful to the throat. 



•f Faucibus anguillce pravce sunt si comedantur : 

 Qui physicam non ignorant hoc testificantur. 



Which, (to reduce the translation to the same standard with 

 the original) , might be thus rendered. 



Eating of eels is hurtful to the throat : 

 So say physicians of no common note. 



f In many editions vbcitms. 



