326 
SHARP-NOSED EEL. 
Anguilla acutirostris. 
This is the most abundant and most valued of the British 
species of Eels; and in Ireland we observe that in letting to 
rent the right of taking fish in rivers, (in Ulster,) that of fishing 
for Eels is to be undertaken separately from the fishery for 
Salmon. As the best known of this family, therefore, it is in 
a special manner the subject of the observations that have been 
made on the habits and history of the race; with the reserve 
of such distinctions only as will be given in our notice of the 
kindred kinds. 
Mr. Thompson has given an account of the large numbers 
of these fish which have been caught in his native Ireland; 
but there apjiears to exist along the northern shores of the 
Mediterranean, so far east as Greece, a more regular fishery 
for Eels than with us; and it is there carried on from 
Michaelmas to the “Eeast of the Kings,” chiefiy by means of 
wicker baskets sunk in the sea. When caught the fish are 
killed by being buried in salt; and then they are salted in 
bulk in tlmee divisions according to their size; the first being 
such as weigh from a pound and a half to seven pounds, and 
the third from two ounces to half a pound. With us the 
smaller Eels are sometimes jjotted or maranaded; but we have 
reason to know that Congers of small size are thus not 
unfrequently made to pass for Eels. An amusing account of 
the cookery and sale of Eels at Naples may be seen in Dr. 
Badham’s work, entitled “Fish Tattle.” 
According to their usual growth, an example that weighs 
half a dozen pounds is considered large ; but there are instances 
on record which have greatly exceeded this. A fisherman 
brought the information of one, which was the largest he had 
