The Eel 491 
left. On the banks of the Thames the passage is called 
Eel-fare. Two observers, watching their progress at 
Kingston, calculated that from sixteen to eighteen hun- 
dred passed a given line per minute. Rennie saw (on 
the loth of May) a column of young eels of uniform 
size, about as thick as a crow-quill, and three inches 
long, returning to the river Clyde, in almost military 
order, keeping within parallel lines of about six inches. 
He traced it lor several hours without perceiving any 
diminution." Those that live in ponds seek the deep 
water for their winter quarters, and sometimes bury 
themselves in the mud at the bottom. They are very 
tenacious of life, and will live for a long time out of 
water; they are even sometimes found on the grass, 
passing from one pond to another, in search, it is said, 
of food. 
They are voracious feeders, eating frogs, snails, and 
other molluscous animals, worms, the fry of fishes, and 
the larvae of various insects, as well as grass and aquatic 
weeds. Mr. Jesse states that he has known them to eat 
young ducks, and even water-rats. 
The Eel is caught in many different ways. As- it sel- 
dom stirs during the day, the best method is found to be 
by setting night-lines. The baits most commonly used 
are lob-worms, loach, minnows, small perch, with the 
fins cut off, or small pieces of any fish ; but such is the 
voracity of this animal that it will take almost any bait. 
Spearing for Eels is a method very commonly resorted 
to during the winter, when Eels imbed themselves in a 
state of torpidity in the muddy banks of streams and 
ponds. Eel-spears have usually six or seven prongs, 
with long handles. The process consists merely in 
plunging them into the mud in likely places, and pull- 
ing them out again. 
There seems to be no reason for supposing, as is 
commonly done, that Eels are viviparous ; parasitic 
worms have sometimes been mistaken for the young 
animals. 
The common Eel often weighs upwards of twenty 
pounds. The flesh is tender, soft, and nourishing, but 
does not agree with all stomachs. 
