Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-02-15
conger-Fishing.

the most abundant, and their peculiar
haunts are in proximity to those bold
rocks which stud the deep water along
the Cornish coast. 1t is believed that
thefish arequite sensitive to the effects
of cold, becoming torpid in severe
weather, and in some cases very low
temperatures apparently kill them.
Fishermen assert that congers are
sensible Of any change of wind and
weather, coming up then from the
deeper water and ranging nearer the
shore. Variations in the color of
congers appear to be due to that
wonderful power many creatures
possess of adapting themselves to their
surroundings. About thirty miles
from the Cornish coast there is reef,
rising almost to the surface of the sea,
where good conger-fshing is found.
The top of the ledge is of dark-colored
rock, while the sides where it slopes to
the deeper sea are Of a lighter shade
Congers caught on the black rock are
of the same color. while those close to
the deeper gullies are almost white.
The conger feeds at night, and fish
ing is always carried on after dark.
A moonlight night interferes with
conger-fshing. At times the fish
seem to be particularly voracious,
seizing with avidity almost any kind
of live bait. The capacity of a conger
as to swallowing a large fish is very
great, and a ten-pound lobster has
been found in its stomach. Like all
fish, the power of digestion is very
rapid, and Couch, in his "History of
English Fishes" states, "when hook
is swallowed it becomes acted on and
consumed in very short time"
The fayorite bait of the conger
fisherman is the squid, or cuttle-ish,
and the fresher they are the more
likely they are to afford good sport.
Some acquaintance with the nature of
the cuttle-fish is necessary, for other
wise, while the fisherman is in the act
of putting it all squirming on the hook
it may eject its inky black fluid all
over him. A dark night being select
ed, then, three fisherman take small
rowboat and skirt the coast. While
one pulls at the oars the others prepare
the tackle. A good strong line capable
of standing a heavy pull is a necessity,
and hooks must be tied on in the most
approved manner, as the conger is sup
piled with sharp cutting teeth, which
he can use by the movement of his head
in rotary manner. The other ac-
cessories in the conger boat are few
heavy gaff, a sharp knife and a
lantern.
A good spot having been selected
and wonderful is the knowledge the
Cornwall fishermen have of localities
which are quite out at sea-a sound
ing is taken of the depth, the line ar
ranged, and it is dropped overheard
baited with lively squid. Sometimes
the conger is slow at biting, and noses
and plays with the hook. At last a
good strong tug is felt, and the fish is
struck, and hauling in commences.
This is by no means an easy job. Being
nothing more than huge eel, the con-
ger has all the tricks Of that fish, which
anglers dread so much. As soon as
the conger feels the restraint of the
line he begins revolving, and with
sufficient force to sometimes disengage
himself from the hook. The fisherman.
on his guard, keeps taut line on the
fish, gradually hauling him to the sur
face. The boat leans over with the
heavy strain, for sixty-pound fish is
no light weight to hold on to. Along
side of the man with the line is his
mate, ready to strike the fish with a
gaff. Just as soon as the head Of the
conger is above the water, the gaff is
driven into the neck, and in this way
the fish is hauled on board.
A big conger in boat is by no
means a pleasant companion. En-
dowed with great muscular power, he
strikes powerful blows with his tail
and snaps with his mouth. Instances
are recorded Of a conger brought into
a boat, when the fisherman has struck
his foot at the conger, it seized the
mans shoe, carried it off his foot, and
then jumped overheard. To prevent
such disturbance in the boat, Just as
soon as the conger is well on board a
sharp knife is driven into him just
back of the head, and the fish dies at
once, with hardly a struggle, the spinal
cord being severed. In point Of fact,
it would be better as food if all fish
could be killed at once after capture
instead Of being allowed to die linger-
ing death.
In former years conger fishing was
more successful than at present.
Thirty years ago fishermen considered
the taking Of 1900 pounds Of congers
as not an unusual nights work, but
to-day not half as many are taken.
Still as sport it has great many
devotees, and many Englishmen fire.
quent the coast, fishing Of nights