294 
FISHES. 
come in contact with, the whole instrument looking like a 
gigantic comb. Armed with this, if I may call it, water- 
scythe, the N"orwegians place their boat in readiness before 
the eels start on their nightly prowl, as they are quite cer- 
tain that the fish will take their accustomed course. When 
the eels do make their appearance, the fishers keep moving 
the water across their line of swim, and three or four 
unfortunates are often secured at a single swathe. Nearly 
a barrel full of eels is sometimes caught thus in a single 
night. As they cannot all be consumed fresh, they are 
salted, and taken to ITorway, where they are considered a 
great delicacy. Such eels as are able to run the gauntlet 
of half a dozen boats manned in this way return to the 
river before morning. N"ot only do the sailors know the 
habits of the eels, but the cormorants and other divers look 
out for them, and make them pay toll. It is amusing to 
see a cormorant with a large eel, the head of which has 
disappeared down its throat, but whose tail is tightly curled 
round the bird's neck. The swim being just behind the 
parapet of the North Pier, one has a good opportunity of 
watching the cormorants and other birds at work without 
being observed by those sharp-eyed wretches. A cormorant 
with a large flounder is even a more ridiculous object than 
one with an eel (Peach). 
209. Conger vulgaris, Cuv. Conger. 
Common ; much more sought after of late years, as they 
command a ready sale and fair price. Delicious eating if 
properly cooked. "We were present at a table-d'hdte where 
fourteen people all took a second helping, and pronounced 
them " delicious." In Caithness, however, Mr. Peach says 
they are often boiled for the cattle, pigs, and horses, and 
he thinks are never eaten by the natives, 
210. Mursena helena, i. Murry. 
