CONGER EEL. 21 



it is supposed to imbed itself under the soft mud, 

 and to lie in an. inactive state ; but on the approach 

 of spring it emerges from its concealment and visits 

 the mouths of rivers. In the mouth of the Severn 

 incredible quantities of young Congers are annually 

 taken during the month of April under the name of 

 Elvers : these are taken in a kind of sieve made of 

 hair-cloth and fixed to the end of a long pole : the 

 fisherman standing on the edge of the water during 

 the tide puts in his net as far as he can reach, and 

 drawing it out again takes multitudes at every 

 sweep, and will take as many during one tide as 

 will fill a bushel : they are dressed and reckoned 

 very delicate. 



The Conger in its full-grown state is also con- 

 sidered as a useful article* of food in many parts of 

 Europe, where it forms an article of commerce. 

 Great numbers are taken on the coast of Cornwall, 

 and are exported into Spain and Portugal, par- 

 ticularly to Barcelona : some are taken by a single 

 hook and line, but because that method is tedious, 

 and does not answer the expence of time and labour, 

 they are chiefly caught by butters, which are strong 

 lines, five hundred feet long, with about, sixty hooks, 

 each eight feet asunder, baited with pilchards or 

 mackrel: the bulters are sunk to the ground by a 

 stone fastened to them, and sometimes such a num- 

 ber of these are tied together as to reach a mile : 

 the fishermen are said to be very fearful of a large 

 Conger, lest it should endanger their legs by cling- 

 ing round them : they therefore kill them as soon as 

 possible, which is said to be best done by striking 



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