Page:British Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fresh-water Fishes.djvu/94

BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES it makes its way to the deep sea for the purpose of spawning, and when that all-important operation is over the adult Eel dies. Whilst it is stated that the female exceeds the male in size (the former attaining a maximum length of 5 feet, and a maximum weight of 12 to 15 pounds, and the latter is said not to exceed more than 2 feet long), I put on record the fact that I have myself caught male Eels 3 feet in length, and on one occasion I landed a male and female within a few minutes of each other from the River Ver at St. Albans which both measured 3 feet each in length, and were about the thickness of one's wrist. Unfortunately I did not ascertain the weight. Eels will soon smash up one's tackle unless carefully handled. They bite like a Tench, the float disappearing under water in a slanting position. Directly the float is out of sight is the time to strike, and on no account should the line be slackened, or the fish will twist his snaky body round any obstacle that comes in the way. If this happens, it is only with great difficulty that the Eel can be shifted from its position, and unless the tackle used is very strong, all is over. An effort should be made to land the Eel direct, and when hooked, to keep it in clear water, and on the move. Lob worms (not too large) are a good bait. When young Eels, or Elvers as they are called, ascend our fresh waters from the sea where they were born, their numbers are legion, and in the River Ouse at St. Neots, Huntingdon, I have known them to be so numerous that they have actually dammed up the sluices, and had 76