The Danville Eel Weir

The Danville Eel Weir [Eel Dam]  Built in 1908 By John Tooey is still visible today

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Eel are no longer plentiful in our area. A variety of dams now prevent them from migrating. But that was not always the case - Eel were, once upon a time, plentiful, and profitable, in our river, and on our local restaurants menus.

In July of 2022 Van Wagner took advantage of the low river level to host a "hike" out to the eel dam that is visible from the Danville river bridge.   It was a really neat experience to stand in the old dam, or eel weir.

A photo of an eel weir "Near Selinsgrove"

How a Weir Worked, according to the Pennsylvania Angler:

"Eels and other fish are led into the weir by two 800-foot stone walls that converge on a wooden structure called the “rack,” where eels and other fish move along a series of slatted inclined planes and eventually are trapped in a wooden box

Constructed in 1908 by John Tooey

I think it is very likely that this particular eel weir, or dam, was constructed in 1908.  The September 3rd edition of the Danville Morning News appears to describe it:

"Under the law fish baskets may be constructed only on procuring a license at the office of the county commissioners, which license g costs one dollar. The first license was taken out by John Tooey of this city. His dam with basket which is constructed near the Creek's mouth, is a most extensive affair and ten men were employed several days in its construction. The long wingwalls and the basket itself may be clearly discerned on looking westward from the river bridge.."

 In September of 1907, The Danville Morning News reported that the extensive eel dams constructed above and below the bridge during low water did not pan out well, "scarcely repaying for the trouble required to construct them."  Ross, a local authority on eels, explained that the high water came on a little too suddenly that year.   

2008 Edition Of the Danville News, also stating that the dam was built by John Tooey, "100 years ago" [1908].

I know that many want to believe the Native Americans built this, and I don't disagree that they may have had one in this area.  However, I think it is unlikely that it would have survived the 1904 ice gorge.  I could be wrong, I don't claim to be the expert - but I strongly believe this dam is the one mentioned in the newspaper as being built in 1908 by John Tooey.  

No matter when exactly  it was built, it's a really neat sight to see.

On March 6 1908, an Eel got into the feed pipe, shutting down the electric plant and leaving the city in darkness

Van Wagner's excellent video on the eel weir in Danville.  His son has taken excellent drone photos, which show it even better than wading out into the river to see it.

The Book Of Eels, by Patrik  Svennson is an absolutely fascinating read about how much researchers have never been able to learn about eels.  If you have Amazon Prime, it's free to read through the Kindle App - https://amzn.to/3Oe3V8z

The Sinuous Eel A 1908 story about the eel & the live Eelcam today, from Washingtonville

 

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READ MORE

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Stories Of Eel

From Our Local Newspapers 

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On September 28 1887, the sheriff at Sunbury  published a "Sheriff's Notice For The Enforcement Of Fish Laws" 

in 1871, under an act of Pennsylvania legislature for the protection of salmon, black bass, and other food fished "newly introduced or to be introduced" into the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers, Sheriff Jacob Kramer of Sunbury, in 1887, gave notice that "all contrivances for the catching of fish, commonly called fish baskets, etc" were hereby declared as common nuisances, and he commanded that all such items be removed throughout his jurisdiction.

In the fish law, section 11, which was quoted in the notice, it included eel weirs.

Northumberland Democrat

October 27 1871

September 21, 1877

Watsontown Star, October 1883

Eel Skin Gloves

Miltonian, 1/3/1890

The Eel In Winter

How The  Market Is Supplied With These Slippery Creatures

1899

The Miltonian, 9/12/1902

Mentioning the Eel Weirs near Naticoke

Eels on the menu at Litzs

Danville News, Dec 28 1904

The "extensive eel dams constructed above and below the bridge" during low water, did not pan out well.  Danville Morning News, September 18 1907

First license for eel fishing was taken out by John Tooey of Danville.

"His dam with basket is constructed near the creeks mouth, is an extensive affair and ten men were employed several days in it's construction.  The long wing walls and basket itself may be clearly discerned on looking westward from the river bridge."

Danville Morning News

September 3 1908

"The eel market promises to be overstocked this season. A dam and basket has been placed in the river below the lock by a Milton party, and Watsontown parties have placed similar devices in the river at Racoon Riffles near the mouth of White Deer Creek" - Watsontown Record & Star, August 1908

An Abundance Of Eels In Danville

September 3 1914

Danville Morning News August 1915

Best Year Yet For Eel Haul in Danville PA

In 1916, Fields Restaurant Had "Fine Eels"

Danville Morning News Jan 1 1916

August 30 1916

Danville Druggist Charles H. Leniger kept an eel as a pet in the store.

April 1919, Sunbury Daily Item

Eyster House had eels on the menu, 15 cents a plate

John Trate caught a 7.5 lb eel below Watsontown

October 6 1921

Miltonian

Dr. H.A. Surface, assemblymen and former state zoologist from Snyder County, gave a description of the habitat of eels

The Miltonian, April 16 1931

September 25 1937

Sunbury Daily Item

September 8 1934

Average Catches

September 25 1937

Two Jailed In Eel Wall War

September 28 1938

The Daily Item, September 1938

Eel Clubbing By Torchlight

May 29, 1940

Sunbury Daily Item

The Northumberland County Democrat, Sunbury Pa

May 14 1891

(I need to come back to this one later, when I have more time to read it properly and understand what the controversy was exactly.  Eel fishermen are mentioned.)