for those cold six months: and this the Eel and Swallow do, as not being able to endure winterweather; for Gesner quotes Albertus to say, that in the year 1125, that year's winter being more cold than usually, Eels did by Nature's instinct get out of the water into a stack of hay in a meadow upon dry ground, and there bedded themselves, but yet at last a frost killed them. And our Camden relates, that in Lancashire, fishes were digged out of the earth with spades, where no water was near to the place. I shall say little more of the Eel, but that, as it is observed, he is impatient of cold, so it hath been oberved, that in warm weather an Eel has been known to live five days out of the water.

And lastly, let me tell you that some curious searchers into the natures of fish, observe that there be several sorts or kinds of Eels, as the Silver Eel, and Green or Greenish Eel, with which the river of Thames abounds, and those are called Grigs; and a Blackish Eel, whose head is more flat and bigger than ordinary Eels: and also an Eel whose fins are reddish, and but seldom taken in this Nation, and yet taken sometimes: these several kinds of Eels are, say some, diversly bred, as namely, out of the corruption of the earth, and some by dew, and other ways, as I have said to you: and yet it is affirmed by some for a certain, that the Silver Eel is bred by generation, but not by spawning as other fish do, but that her brood come alive from her, being

then little live Eels no bigger nor longer than a pin; and I have had too many testimonies of this to doubt the truth of it myself, and if I thought it needful I might prove it, but I think it is needless.

And this Eel, of which I have said so much to you, may be caught with divers kinds of baits: as namely, with powdered beef, with a Lob, or Gardenworm, with a Minnow, or gut of a Hen, Chicken, or the guts of any fish, or with almost any thing, for he is a greedy fish; but the Eel may be caught especially with a little, a very little Lamprey, which some call a Pride, and may in the hot months be found many of them in the river Thames, and in many mud-heaps in other rivers, yea, almost as usually as one finds worms in a dunghill.

Next note, that the Eel seldom stirs in the day, but then hides himself, and therefore he is usually caught by night, with one of these baits of which I have spoken, and may be then caught by laying hooks, which you are to fasten to the bank, or twigs of a tree; or by throwing a string cross the stream with many hooks at it, and those baited with the aforesaid baits, and a clod, or plummet, or stone, thrown into the river with this line, that so you may in the morning find it near to some fixed place, and then take it up with a drag-hook or otherwise: but these things are indeed too common to be spoken of, and an hour's fishing with any Angler will teach you better both for these and many other common things in the practical

part of Angling, than a week's discourse. I shall therefore conclude this direction for taking the Eel, by telling you, that in a warm day in summer, I have taken many a good Eel by Snigling, and have been much pleased with that sport.

And because you that are but a young Angler, know not what Snigling is, I will now teach it to you. You remember I told you that Eels do not usually stir in the day-time, for then they hide themselves under some covert, or under boards or planks about flood-gates, or wears, or mills, or in holes in the river-banks; so that you observing your time in a warm day, when the water is lowest, may take a strong, small hook, tied to a strong line, or to a string about a yard long, and then into one of these holes, or between any boards about a mill, or under any great stone or plank, or any place where you think an Eel may hide or shelter herself, you may with the help of a short stick put in your bait, but leisurely, and as far as you may conveniently and it is scarce to be doubted, but that if there be an Eel within the sight of it, the Eel will bite instantly, and as certainly gorge it: and you need not doubt to have him, if you pull him not out of the hole too quickly, but pull him out by degrees, for he lying folded double in his hole, will with the help of his tail break all, unless you give him time to be wearied with pulling, and so get him out by degrees, not pulling too hard.

And to commute for your patient hearing this long direction, I shall next tell you how to make this EEL

:

First, wash him in water and salt, then pull off his skin below his vent or navel, and not much further having done that, take out his guts as clean as you can, but wash him not: then give him three or four scotches with a knife, and then put into his belly and those scotches, sweet herbs, an anchovy, and a little nutmeg grated, or cut very small, and your herbs and anchovies must also be cut very small, and mixed with good butter and salt; having done this, then pull his skin over him all but his head, which you are to cut off, to the end you may tie his skin about that part where his head grew, and it must be so tied as to keep all his moisture within his skin and having done this, tie him with tape or packthread to a spit, and roast him lei

C C

surely, and baste him with water and salt till his skin breaks, and then with butter: and having roasted him enough, let what was put into his belly, and what he drips, be his sauce. S. F.

When I go to dress an Eel thus, I wish he were as long and big as that which was caught in Peterborough river in the year 1667, which was a yard and three quarters long. If you will not believe me, then go and see at one of the Coffee-houses in King-street in Westminster.

But now let me tell you, that though the Eel thus dressed be not only excellent good, but more harmless than any other way, yet it is certain, that physicians account the Eel dangerous meat; I will advise you therefore, as Solomon says of honey, Prov. xxv. 16, "hast thou found it, eat no more "than is sufficient, lest thou surfeit, for it is not "good to eat much honey." And let me add this, that the uncharitable Italian bids us, " " and no Wine to our Enemies."

give Eels,

And I will beg a little more of your attention to tell you, that Aldrovandus and divers physicians, commend the Eel very much for medicine, though not for meat. But let me tell you one observation ; that the Eel is never out of season, as Trouts and most other fish are at set times, at least most Eels are not.

I might here speak of many other fish whose shape and nature are much like the Eel, and fre