Page:Natural History, Fishes.djvu/290

276 another migration of adult Eels to the sea, for the purpose of spawning. Great numbers, however, remain in the fresh waters through the winter, hiding themselves in the mud, where they become torpid till the return of mild weather.

Eels are taken in various modes. One called totting is performed by cutting a hole in the weeds, on a gravelly bottom, and placing a boat there. The fisherman is provided with a short stick, with a cord at the end, to which is attached a bunch of worms strung on worsted with a leaden plummet in the midst of them. To this curious bait, as soon as it reaches the bottom, the Eels crowd, and suck at the worms, when the tot is quickly drawn up into the boat. The Eels drop off into the boat, the tot is plunged again, and soon again comes up loaded with fish. It is a nocturnal amusement, but when the weather is favourable produces good sport.

In mill-waters many Eels are taken in the following way. A frame-work is fitted to one of the smaller gates, to which is affixed a net of very strong cord, sixty feet in length, becoming narrower towards the extremity, where a hoop-net is tied, to receive the Eels carried down by the stream. When used, the other gates are closed, the one in question only being left open. The net must be watched, and the weeds or drift wood that accumulates taken out; the Eels also must be removed at intervals, for otherwise they would be crushed to death by the force with which the rushing current packs them together. Thirty or forty stone of Eels are thus sometimes taken in one night; generally very fine