The Portland daily press., 1895-11-02
FIGHT WITH AN Eel.
Sailors Given a Surprise on the Pa
eific Coast.

Ninety-Pounder of the Conger Variety
Resents Rude Awakening and Swings
Two Men About on the End of an Oar
Which He Seizes With His Teeth-Su-
perstitious Sailors Land Their Prize and
Claim Good Luck and Big "Feed"--
Peculiar Things About the Eel Tribe.
San Diego, Cal, Oct. 22.--When the UNI
ted States steamer Thetis touched at this
port on the way up the coast from her
annual cruise off the coast of Lower Cali
fornia, attending the coast survey work
of the government, her officers had a tale
to tell concerning cells, or rather, concern
ing one lone. but very pugnacious eel, the
main facts of which are worth repeating.
Although snakelike.in form and action,
the eel Of fresh water or salt water habit
is commonly supposed to be a harmless
creature, altogether devoid of true snake
attributes and of toothsomeness graft
flying to epicures. Eels are highly relish
ed by sailors. They know somewhat of
the fastidious taste of cells in the matter
tainted food, no matter how hungry it
may be. 1t always insists on having
fresh GRUB" When fishing for the mess
sailors are especially pleased whenever
they can take q goodly supply of cells.
They believe, too, that the capture of cells
means good luck. Tickle a sailors SUI
perstitious nature at the same time that
you tickle his stomach and you have a
combination which is extremely crafty
ing to the skipper of ship.
For several months the men aboard the
Thetis had been working hard. Coast
survey work is always hard work. FIRE.
quent landings are made through the ter
rible surf. Excursions to inland promon-
tories are frequently necessary in order
to establish signal points for the purpose
of triangulation. One day the landing
party met with an experience which set
the whole ship to talking, including an
exciting adventure, and ended in good
S'feed'' of delicious fish for the seamen's
mess. The survey party had landed
through the surf, the officers and men
vending their way inland, leaving the big
surf boat in charge of two sailors These
men, finding it difficult to kill time, be-
gan to explore among the rocks in the
neighborhood seeking curious sea shells
and MOSES. On q nicely weed-cushioned
rock. rolled up in sleepy coil, one of the
men espied a huge eel. The fish was
asleep. The sailors thought they had an
easy victim before them. For although
the eel was of extraordinary size, it's gem
eral appearance was that of the ordinary
salt water eel. One of the sailors carried
a boat hook. He carelessly touched the
sleeping fish The instant he did so he
caused a co1nmotion which made him
Jump backward in alarm. The eel uncoil-
ed in an instant, just as sleeping rattle
snake uncoils when it is suddenly dis
turbed. Its wicked eyes flashed spiteful-
ly. An cells eye is probably the most ma
licious looking optical organ in. any liv-
il fish. The eye of a rattlesnake is an
innocent eye when compared with that of
a sea eel The disturbed eel assumed the
offensive at once. Snake-like, it threw
back it's head at half coil, just as a rat
tier takes it's position to strike, and lung
ed at the intruding tar, its strong teeth
flashing in the morning sunlight The
tar jumped backward, slipped on bunch
of seaweed, rolled over in q heap and
scrambled out of the reach of the enemy
on all tours.
The mans sailor superstition was
aroused AS he afterward remarked he
thought at the moment that he had
tackled genuine sea serpent. The boat
hook was o short handed affair, so his COM
panion rushed to the ships boat, secured
one of the long oars. and returned to re-
new the attack The eel wasn't fright
ened bit. 1t did not attempt to run
away, but remained in half coil ready
to strike the first enemy that approached.
AS the fish appeared to be nearly as long
as the great oar, the seamen thrust the
ashen stick at their enemy rather ginger
". The instant, however, that the
broad, thin blade of the oar was within
striking distance the eel hit it The i'm
pact caused the long stick to tremble. A
second and third time was the oar
struck, and finally the eel succeeded in
unfolding it's teeth firmly in the wood
and in holding on with grip that alarm
ed the men. The creature weighed over
ninety pounds, and when this muscular
body, combined with a very respectable
weight, writhed and tugged at one end OF
the oar the men at the other end had
their hands full to retain the weapon and
endeavor to punch the life ont of their
antagonist.
The fight between men and eel ragged
for half an hour. AT last the eel weak
ened so that one man could hold the oar
The second man seized the boathook and
struck the fish on the skull, finally frac-
turing the bone 1t was hard fight. The
men were nearly exhausted aU the finish.
Close examination proved that the eel
was an enormous conger. The great skin
was carefully removed and the body taken
aboard ship and turned over to the cook.
The sailors will never to their dying day
= ~ ,atf irrI,f