The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-04
EELS OUT AND READY
TO BITE FOR ROBBERS
Three Jamaica Bay Fishermen
Catch 100 Big Ones in
Hole Creek.
CREATURES OF MYSTERY
Many Ancient Superstitions
Still Cling Around the
Wr:--glers.
CREATURES OF MYSTERY

Now II is time to bob for cells. Tho
warm sunshine OF the week has brought
the cells out of the mud and the squirm-
ing. wriggllng things are roaming over
the fats looking for food. The largest
catch to date was taken from Hook Creek
In Jamaica Bav by three fishermen, who
counted up with some difficulty and found
that they had caught 100 big ones.
Eels bite best In the spring and autumn.
4 In--winter they bunch in great numbers
In mud holes. They feed mostly at night.
and now that the alternating period Is
over fishermen angle for them. spear them
or bring them to the surface by means Of
q bob. W. J. dc Nyse OF the New York
Aquarium says:
"Bobbing for cells starts about the mid
die OF April In the vicinity of New York.
Eels are generally out OF the mud by that
time. They AFFORD good sport for those
who know how to get them and this is
the method OF procedure:
THE bobber digs quart of sand worms
out of the flats ut low tide. which he
strings on linen thread witira Ions needle,
running II through the entire length of
each worm After the thread, which is
ten or fifteen feet long, is fun of worms
and the ends are secured IL is wound
around the hand. forming a hank. through
which a fishing line is passed Thread is
then wound around the hank. securing II
in a compact bunch four or Ave inches
long and two or three inches thick. This
makes the bob.
Flood Tide to High Water.
Eel bobbing may he done anywhere
along the shores Of New York Bay In
water five or six feet deep or In fact over
the sand flats from which the worms were
obtained. The time for fishing is from
the first of the food tide to high water.
After the boat Is anchored the bob with
two ounce s'nker attached Is dropped
3D.. ~.
by sounding. II cells are about the fun
will begin Immediately.
The cells seize the bob and hang on
until they are lifted into the boat. The
thread wound about the bob holds II to-
gether n long time. Sometimes four or five
cells are lifted from the water at once. arid
bobber may catch bushel of them,
varying in size from six inches 10 two
feet. at one tide.
"Bobbing is also done from the shore
with fishing rod. the cells being thrown
out onto the bank. Then the spectators
have the fun Of seeing the bobber catch
the slippery creatures and put them In the
basket. Half of those tossed ashore may
wriggle into the water before they are
captured"
Almost anywhere is a good place to go
for cells. the sedgy shores of the Arthur
XIII between Staten Island and New Jer-
sey. the Staten Island shore between
Princess Bay and the Woods of Arden.
Gravesend Bay. Jamaica Bay. Hacken-
sack. Hudson and East rivers. Long ISL
and Sound. Great South Bay and the
Shrewsbury River. all report catches.
The Shrewsbury River must never be
forgotten because OF the fact that Dick
Apologize in that stream landed an eel
weighing eight and three-Quarter pounds,
which measured feet IL inches In length
and is said to have been the largest eel
caught in Monmouth county. The meat
was IL inches thick.
This was q common. every day eel, and
not sea eel, which grow much larger
than eight and three-quarter pounds, al
though OF course all cells will do their
utmost to reach salt water and have been
known even to go through wet grass at
night. to find ways and means of reaching
the ocean.
Eels are remarkably prolific and it has
been estimated that a single female will
produce 100000 eggs. so catch OF
160 by three fishermen in Hook Creek
10 not likely to decrease the supply OF
cells. In ancient times there were all
sorts OF superstitions regarding cells.
According to John NJ. Copb many Of the
ancients believed they were engendered
from mud: Piny believed that they
rubbed themselves against the rocks when
tired Of living and from the detritus Is
sued new breed. Still others believed
that they came from the carcasses of ami
riels, or that the soaking of a stations
tail would breed them.
In later times 1t was thought cells
sprang from May dew or from the skins
of snakes while even TO this day the be-
lief is prevalent in some parts OF the world
that cells are not born from other cells but
from certain fishes. On the coast Of Ger
many n fish related to the cod. which
brings it's young living into the world,
owes to this circumstance Its name "aal-
mutter" (eel mother). In Sardinia the
q s.t.
water beetle, Dytiscus roeselii Is the pro-
yentor of cells and therefore cali this in
sect the mother of cells"
The South Sea Islanders believe tina,
Eve was tempted in the Garden OF Elder
by an eel while in Egypt the eel was wcr-
shipped as a god. Eela were favOrite
subjects in the old pnarmacopeia Hip
pocrates forbade their use food in ases
Of diseased spleen, while Galen prescribed
them as a medicine in nephrtic COM
plants. The monks OF Salerno complained
that ito live on eels was a sure means OF
spelling the voice"
In the Middle Ages cells were put &c
MAN, medicinal uses, some OF which are
still IN vogue In Europe and this country
To prevent collie a girdle should nc made
from tho skin of an eel and worn around
the waist. In New England an eelskil Is
worn to keep OF rheumatism; while al
most every boy believes that an -elskr
worn around an ankle When in swimming
will prevent cramps. Among the New York
Dutchmen, especially in Irvng's time. ar
eelskin was esteemed potent nourishel
and strengthened of the hair.
Travels on Land Sometimes.
As to cells travelling through wet grass
the experience of w ~ Neehan OF the
Pennsylvania Fish and Game Commits
SIGN Is interesting
FOR many years. says Mr.. Meehan
ut was q source of much speculatio how