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Show EEL TRADE S DEMORALIZED - Catchers of Elongated Slippery Fish In Thames River Among Others . Affected by the War. Good Queen Bess' fondness for the Dutch eel la keeping one man in Britain Brit-ain in a state of forced idleness, observes ob-serves the New York Sun. In the early part of her reign a boat laden with eels sailed up the Thames and part of the cargo was sent to the virgin queen as a gift. Her majesty was so delighted with the, at that time novel dish, that she granted Skipper Visjerzonen a charter which made the River Thames free to him and his descendants, absolved him of all river dues and gave his descendants the v right to moor at a certain spot in the river forever. But one condition of the charter was to the effect that the mooring place always must be occupied by some of their boats. If at any time the place was unused the privilege would cease. For 300 years the descendants de-scendants of the fortunate skipper have plied their trade In the Thames, always retaining their original mooring moor-ing place. But the war broke out, the eel trade fell off considerably and the submarine activity completely killed it off about two years ago. Captain Villum, the last arrival in charge of an eel boat, has since that period been to all intents and purposes pur-poses marooned. To maintain his rights it has been necessary to stay in the river, and until the war ends this condition will be fulfilled. He replies re-plies to questions as to the length of his exile that he expects to stay for two or three years yet. |