1034 
SCANDINAVIAN FISHES 
trough or wooden pump-barrel, blackened lest it should 
frighten the Eel, and with the inner end raised high 
enough above the level of the water in and below the 
trap to cut off the Eel’s retreat. When the trough is 
closed, the water runs out of the trap, and the Eels 
are fished up. On the same principle alkistor are con- 
structed beside mills and other waterworks; but their 
lower end is generally closed with a fine iron grating. 
Into Eel-trunks (bradsumpar), which are placed in a 
strong current, the Eel is guided by two converging 
rows of freshly peeled, white stakes or unbarked birch- 
trunks. Wherever the Eel is known to have its haunts 
in fresh water, among the reeds and in calm inlets, 
Eel-boxes (al-lador) are sunk, lined with woolly sheep- 
skin, the wool facing inwards, and pierced with round 
holes 3 or 4 cm. wide. At these holes the sheepskin 
is slit up crosswise, and the strips are left hanging 
Fig. 279. Eel-spear. 
there. The Eel-box is baited with pieces of meat or 
the like wrapped in fresh pea-haulm, and the box is 
then left in a fathom or two of water for a week or 
so, when it is examined, and moved to another locality, 
if the catch is too poor. In the same way Eel-baskets 
Fig. 280. Danish Eel-vveir. After Drechsel. 
