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Eel Societies


Guest Ian Cresswell

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Guest Spac-e-man aka eelangler

Hi all,

 

I'll try to be honest here and say there is some history between The NAC and ESG and even BEAC when it existed, but I all that was put behind us when the three groups decided to work together and formed the Eel Conservation Soceity. What is most important here, and could be a role model for many other groups is the fact that despite any differences that there might be, all three groups could see the bigger picture and worked together for the good of eels, eel angling and for that matter angling in general. Unfortunately BEAC is no longer in existence but the NAC and ESG continue to work together with the clear aims of protecting eels and angling for the future.

Eels are not the only species to have more than one group dedicated to them. Barbel, carp and catfish are the other three that I know of.

 

I don't know what the critieria are for joining the ESG either.

 

TTFN

 

Spac-e-man

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Guest tony jolley

As I said I`m sure there is an E,S,G member reading this somwhere.

I am not a member so am unable to say the differances,

I can however tell you what you get from the N,A,C for your money if you are intreasted,

If so I will post tomorrow as its "time for bed" as zebbadee once said,

If you do want to know then any of the eeling mafia can tell you.

Night night!

 

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Tony B.T Jolley

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Guest 'eelfisher'

Dear all

As General Secretary for the National Angilla Club, I think that it is only right that I post as to the criteria for membership into the NAC only...It would be fundimentally wrong for me to even think about expressing my thoughts on how the Eel Study Group membership is formulated. That would be only proper coming from Clive Dennison, the General Secretary for the Eel Study Group......or one of its present members, if they are surfing the net and reading this post.

The NAC is open to anyone who is interested in fishing for eels. The only criteria is a love of eels and to be able to share information with the whole membership.

The NAC is made up of a senior and junior membership. We have two magazines per year, in A3 format with colour included, which all members are asked to contibute to if possible. As everyone knows, not every member is confident enough to write articles in any organisation...but we do encourage members to participate by having a superb editor, a brilliant line-artist and a fantastic producer who take the simplist effort of an article and turn it into something to be proud of....once they have seen theirs or their friends contributions laid out in the club Bulletin, 'ANGUILLA', they acquire the desire to become regular writers.

When the Bulletin, 'ANGUILLA', was given a new lease of life about three years ago, we were suffering the bain of all organisations, that of not too many contributors....however, due to the hard work of Stuart, Damian and Jimmy we now have on average 16 differnt contributors each issue.

We have a junior magazine, 'ELVERS', which is servicing 11 junior members. We see the junior section as our life blood....not just for eel fishing but for angling itself...and we do everything in our power to make sure that they remain interested in our great sport. Anthony, 'B.T.' to you lot out there, is the Junior Officer of the club and is doing a sterling job of maintaining that our youngsters stay within angling....no mean feat when one considers the distractions out there.

As an example of our youth policy, the last two years has seen five juniors become senior members....and they are all very good anglers in their own right.

We are not just confined to 'the lad's' either....we do have female members, indeed we have two superb lady committee members who have given outstanding service to the club....and continue to do so I might add.

We produce two/three newsletters each year, hold official club fish-ins...where the members get to meet and discuss eel fishing over the weekend. We also have a regional set up of officers who act as contacts and connections between the members and the committee. The National Anguilla Club is not a club....it is a family.

Every member has an up to date membership list.....how many other single specie groups have that as standard...and contact between every member is encouraged. I try to contact every new members either by e-mail, letter or phone to welcome them to the club and generally have a natter about eel fishing.

All the committee are approachable by anyone....all understand the need for the membership to feel as equals.

I remember first joining the NAC and being in awe of the committee at that time. I vowed that if I ever became a committee member that I would never want anyone to feel that they couldn't contact me for advice, help or just to talk....only those out there who have joined the NAC over the years can say if the club is as open as I have stated.....I would be gob smacked if this was all a dream though.!!!!!

The questions posed can be answered as follows....

There were only ever three eel groups. The NAC, the ESG and the BEAC.

I shall explain the three groups reasons for individual existance briefy...and I hope I get it rightish.....

there was once just the NAC....then politics reared its hungry head, as it does from time to time, and a breakaway group from the NAC formed and established the ESG. John Sidley then tried to become a member of the NAC and was not allowed to join, the reasons for this I am unsure of....but it is of little importance now I guess. John, Gerry Rogers and Mick Bowles then started the BEAC...with the hugely important 'Put eels back alive' campaign. (Whether John had become a member of the ESG before this or after I don't know....maybe Clive does though?) The point being that before his death John had become a member of all the three eel groups.....something spooky there don't you think?

Anyway....thats how three eel groups came into being in my understanding of things.

The BEAC is now defunct. (I was a member of the BEAC as well)

Before the BEAC became defunct, Clive and myself.....along with a very good letter to both groups from Nick Rose...the present NAC Chairman and a member of the ESG....decided to close the political war zone between the three groups by bringing together the political voices of all the groups and established the 'Eel Conservation Society', of which Clive is the main Spokesperson...I could go as far as saying he is the unofficial Chairman of the political group that represents the two eel groups now in existance.

Both Groups have their own identity and are happy to stay this way. History is something which is no-one can change and I believe that both Groups have their place in our angling society. The ECS is just the common voice for both groups in any political arena.

Paul, which is the 'experienced big eel anglers' group.......both groups have members who have caught very big eels. Neither says it is as you describe.....are you making menace or have you some info you wish to share with us?

I am trying to give everyone the full and honest picture of why so many groups existed years ago...something which is not easy due to the nature of the audience (hidden from my eyes...I can do this better in a room full of people I can see...I was aware that this could turn ugly if integrity wasn't shown, but wouldn't allow that worry to stop me posting this long reply.)

The only criteria that I am aware of to join the ESG is a commitment to fullfil a desinated amount of sessions per season and to submit a monthly catch return to the records officer. I am sure that Clive will add whatever he feels is necessary to this post. (If he hasn't posted by Friday, I shall e-mail him and ask him to look in on this thread, OK.....we get on very well, so I am sure that Clive will not mind me doing this.)

To end this post off...and I'll come back to it so long as any more questions are deemed necessary and are constructive in their make up, OK.....I know that Ian was not looking to make this a political minefield because he is to be my guest over some eel sessions this season and is also to be invited to be a guest on a NAC fish-in weekend.....so unless he his suicidal, then he has posted in good faith.

Sorry this reply took so long to post but I have just got back in from a family meal at the local public house....I felt that I couldn't ignore the questions asked given that I am a little curious in other areas myself from time to time.

I hope that I have gone some way to explaining how, what and why......I am sure that you will let me know in due course.

Yours With Respect....

Steve.

 

[This message has been edited by 'eelfisher' (edited 09 May 2001).]

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Guest Ian Cresswell
Originally posted by 'eelfisher':

OK.....I know that Ian was not looking to make this a political minefield because he is to be my guest over some eel sessions this season and is also to be invited to be a guest on a NAC fish-in weekend.....so unless he his suicidal, then he has posted in good faith.

 

I promise that my initial posting was in good faith and that I wouldn't be so suicidal as to pick on eel anglers.

 

I was just wondering where the differing societies came from and why there are/were so many.

 

Now, just being a devils advocate here, is there any simple reason why you eel guys shouldn't unify?

 

Also I suppose ... is there anything that you would like to push about eel conservation & awareness ??? ...

 

Thanks for tolerating an eel unaware fool smile.gif

 

Ian.

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Guest 'eelfisher'

Dear Ian

You're no fool my friend, have I answered your questions or what??????

On the subject of the two becoming one....we all need some 'spice' in our lives.

We are happy being two....we have our own agenda's.

If ever the two came together, it would be the ESG coming back into the mothership. However, the initial split that caused the two to go seperate ways has occurred and the two history's hold them apart. I do not know who is left from both groups from the time of the initial split but consider this....we have no problem with this scenario, so why should anyone who isn't in either group?

Consider our differences as our private affair and please allow us to continue to both be pro-active in our differing ways within the angling circle.

Yours With Respect...

Steve.

PS...Any political worries we have shall be cared for within the organisational set-up of the SAA from Sunday onwards....Join us and see how we operate as a joint political force...we feel that we have unified in the department that we both need to sing the same song from...the political angle. (Apologies for the pun.)

 

 

 

[This message has been edited by 'eelfisher' (edited 10 May 2001).]

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Guest Ian Cresswell
Originally posted by 'eelfisher':

Consider our differences as our private affair and please allow us to continue to both be pro-active in our differing ways within the angling circle.

 

Now some might have a problem with the term 'private affair' ... I wouldn't want to push that any further myself. I do however understand and respect that view.

 

An innocent question Steve ... that's all.

 

As far as the SAA thing is concerned on Sunday ... well I'm going to the other gig in town smile.gif

 

 

[This message has been edited by Ian Cresswell (edited 10 May 2001).]

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Guest tony jolley

dear Steve and all.

I think I am responsable for miss leading everyone on the thought that the E,S,G are the big eel fishers, for that I am wrong and sorry for my wording.

 

------------------

Tony B.T Jolley

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Guest scoobs11

eelfisher could you either post or send me details of how to join (who to contact & price etc)

ta scoobs11@excite.co.uk

ps are there any members near cumbria ????

 

 

------------------

if you can't be good

be careful

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Guest 'eelfisher'

Dear all

I have held private e-mail with Ian over this threads topic and I have come to the conclusion that the questions asked have been answered....I hope you lot out there do as well.

I know that Ian asked the question in good faith...given the amount of eel groups/organisations named, I would imagine that there were others out there to who wondered why.

The fact is that there are two eel specialist groups in existance. They both contribute to the political platform of the eel conservation society...which worked through the SACG in the past and in the future will work through the SAA.

I shall hope that other questions regarding eel problems and information can be posted on Ian's thread and that the eel lad's/women will come into play and give their opinions and answers to those posts.......

Questions Please......

Yours With Respect.....

Steve.

PS...Thanks for the decency and respect Ian during our correspondence over the past 24 hours......Here's to progress and positivity.

 

[This message has been edited by 'eelfisher' (edited 10 May 2001).]

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