Eels are very averse to cold, and to this is ascribed their winter descent to brackish water, or hiding of themselves in mud. The number of known species is large, but they all belong tothe temperate and warmer regions of the globe. In these, also, the marine fishes to which the name E. is sometimes extended, chiefly abound.
There is a prejudice in some countries—particularly in Scotland—against eating eels, on account of their serpent-like appearance; but generally, as in England, they are highly esteemed. The London market is very largely supplied with eels from Holland; they are sent over alive in welled vessels.
There are various means beside those already noticed employed for the capture of the eel. Weirs and stages are erected across rivers, and baskets, or bucks, as they arc termed, fixed in them for.tbe taking of the 'eelS during their migrations. These baskets are of large size, and shaped like a huge Chinese jar, in the mouth of which is fitted a sort of funnel-shaped mouse-trap entrance, composed of flexible withy rods coming inwards to a point, and through which the eels can easily force their way; but when they turn about to find the entrance again, it is closed against them. When the eels are running, as it is termed—that is, during their migrations—many hundredweights are often taken in these basket-traps in a single night. are also used for their capture. These are of a similar nature to the bucks, but are smaller and more slender. They are sunk, by means of bricks tied to them, in the most likely runs or narrow spaces between weeds, or close to banks, and through which eels are likely to run. After a thunder-storm, eels always run well, as it disturbs them greatly. Eels are also caught by means of night-lines. These are long lines with heavy weights at each end, and in the middle if necessary, with hooks tied on every yard. These hooks are baited with pieces of dead fish, minnows, or worms. The line is sunk, and laid across stream—or, if fishing for conger-eels, in the sea—with, if it be thought necessary, a. small buoy at one end, to recover the line by. These eel-lines should be hauled as early
in the morning as possible, or the best eels will be found to have worked themselves off, leaving a mass of knots and slime behind them, to show where they have been. Snig gling is a favorite amusement with some anglers. A rod or a long stick is provided, bent round at the slender end like the top of a very well used fishing-rod; on the point is fixed a single ring; through this ring is passed a piece of string; one end of this is. held in the fisherman's hand. To the other end, on some fine but strong cord, is fast ened a stout darning-needle, tied to the cord by the middle. The needle is then baited, or thrust lengthwise into a large lob-worm, until the fine cord alone comes out at the head of the worm. The worm is then drawn up to the ring of the rod. The fisherman then seeks for some hole in which he thinks an E. may be, and applying the point of the rod, pushes the worm into it. As soon as the fisherman believes an E. has swal lowed the bait, he gives a slight pull to the string; and the needle,which has gone down the E.'s throat inside the worm perfectly straight, being tied by the middle, turns cross wise in the E.'s throat or stomach, and hooks him. is thus practiced: quantity of lob-worms are strung by means of a needle on to some stout worsted until a. considerable bunch of them is obtained; this is tied to the end of a cord, which is again tied to a stout pole. When the eels are on the move, the fisherman takes his station with a pail half full of water within reach; he then drops his clod into the water, and allows it to sink to the bottom. As soon as he feels an E. tugging at it, he steadily and quickly, but without jerk, raises the bait from the water. The E. frequently has its teeth so entangled in the worsted as to be unable to let go, and thus is lifted from the water. The bait is held over the pail; a shake or two dislodges the E., and the clod is then dropped into the water again, to fish for more. Sometimes two or even three eels come up at once, and a great number are often taken thus.