Who put the eel in Ely?

Image: © Chris Taken: 3 Aug 2015

The eel sculpture is one of many eel-themed features on the Eel Walk. Ely takes is name from this fish, and dates from the time when it was an island (Eel Island) in a marsh which provided a rich supply of eels. I visited the town in about 2002, and interviewed a retired eel catcher, Sid Merry, who told stories of times when eels were still plentiful. Sid Merry died in 2012 and a bench was erected in memory: http://www.elystandard.co.uk/news/mayor_of_ely_unveils_bench_in_memory_of_much_loved_ely_man_1_1478319 By the time of my visit in 2002 there were few eels left, and few licences for eel fishing, but I went out on a boat with one of the remaining fisherman to collect eels from nets in the river. Now I understand that the tradition is kept alive in Ely for "ceremonial" purposes. Smoked eels, and the London East End speciality of jellied eels, are still available in the shops "from sustainable sources", including "farmed" eels from the Netherlands. See: http://www.smithssmokery.co.uk and www.dutcheel.com Elvers used to be eaten, but with such a rare fish it has, not surprisingly, become unacceptable to swallow a thousand of these precious creatures in one mouthful! Whilst looking for an angle from which to catch this slippery sculpture on camera, I got talking to a Japanaese tourist. She was visiting Ely because she had read a children's book, called "Tom's Midnight Garden" which had a picture of Ely on the cover, and a reference to people skating down the frozen river there. She read it first in Japanese then in English. She asked me if there was a connection between Ely and eels, so of course I was able to enlighten her. She said that eel is very, very expensive in Japan!

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