Surprised Eel Historian, PhD
@greenleejw.bsky.social
Surprised historian, not surprised eels.
Doctor of medieval things. Talkin’ eels, history, and maps. Spaniel mourner. Alt-text artist.
I draw custom maps and artwork on commission:
https://surprisedeelmaps.com/
Support me here: patreon.com/SurprisedEel
Doctor of medieval things. Talkin’ eels, history, and maps. Spaniel mourner. Alt-text artist.
I draw custom maps and artwork on commission:
https://surprisedeelmaps.com/
Support me here: patreon.com/SurprisedEel
Oh! I can see that
November 28, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Oh! I can see that
Oh! That’s really interesting!
November 28, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Oh! That’s really interesting!
Fair. I can see that
November 28, 2025 at 6:02 AM
Fair. I can see that
Nice. I like it
November 28, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Nice. I like it
I like it
November 28, 2025 at 5:05 AM
I like it
Oooh. Nice
November 28, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Oooh. Nice
Could be! Esp. If you flip it upside down
November 28, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Could be! Esp. If you flip it upside down
Yes, yes. Go ahead and make more room for Thanksgiving eels.
November 28, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Yes, yes. Go ahead and make more room for Thanksgiving eels.
Seems very likely. He’d have had a hard time not noticing
November 27, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Seems very likely. He’d have had a hard time not noticing
I know. That’s a big part of the rationale of this account.
November 27, 2025 at 8:48 PM
I know. That’s a big part of the rationale of this account.
All they had to do was ask!
November 27, 2025 at 8:24 PM
All they had to do was ask!
The Pilgrims would have been relieved that the rivers held such a familiar feast. Bradford recorded the eels were "fat & sweet" & that the people were glad to have them.
In a strange land, they had found a little bit of home. Which is always something to be thankful for. /fin
In a strange land, they had found a little bit of home. Which is always something to be thankful for. /fin
November 27, 2025 at 5:59 PM
The Pilgrims would have been relieved that the rivers held such a familiar feast. Bradford recorded the eels were "fat & sweet" & that the people were glad to have them.
In a strange land, they had found a little bit of home. Which is always something to be thankful for. /fin
In a strange land, they had found a little bit of home. Which is always something to be thankful for. /fin
But the Pilgrims may not have known that eels lived in the rivers. They landed in late Dec. of a bitter winter. And eels hibernate, burrowing into the mud all winter.
The peace with the Wampanoags was made in mid-March, & the eels would only have just started moving about. 4/5
The peace with the Wampanoags was made in mid-March, & the eels would only have just started moving about. 4/5
November 27, 2025 at 5:59 PM
But the Pilgrims may not have known that eels lived in the rivers. They landed in late Dec. of a bitter winter. And eels hibernate, burrowing into the mud all winter.
The peace with the Wampanoags was made in mid-March, & the eels would only have just started moving about. 4/5
The peace with the Wampanoags was made in mid-March, & the eels would only have just started moving about. 4/5
In fact, the English knew about the very method of fishing that local people used. William Bradford wrote that Tisquantum "trod them out with his feet", which was a common fishing technique in England.
It shows up in Chaucer's writing, & in John Donne's, and other places. 3/5
It shows up in Chaucer's writing, & in John Donne's, and other places. 3/5
November 27, 2025 at 5:59 PM
In fact, the English knew about the very method of fishing that local people used. William Bradford wrote that Tisquantum "trod them out with his feet", which was a common fishing technique in England.
It shows up in Chaucer's writing, & in John Donne's, and other places. 3/5
It shows up in Chaucer's writing, & in John Donne's, and other places. 3/5
You may read elsewhere that the indigenous peoples taught the Pilgrims how to fish eels. No way!
The Pilgrims came from England, w/ it's long-established tradition of eel fishing. Where eel-fishing knowledge was axiomatic.
They knew how to catch the fish. 2/5
The Pilgrims came from England, w/ it's long-established tradition of eel fishing. Where eel-fishing knowledge was axiomatic.
They knew how to catch the fish. 2/5
November 27, 2025 at 5:59 PM
You may read elsewhere that the indigenous peoples taught the Pilgrims how to fish eels. No way!
The Pilgrims came from England, w/ it's long-established tradition of eel fishing. Where eel-fishing knowledge was axiomatic.
They knew how to catch the fish. 2/5
The Pilgrims came from England, w/ it's long-established tradition of eel fishing. Where eel-fishing knowledge was axiomatic.
They knew how to catch the fish. 2/5
As a child with no grounding in Christian apocalypticism, I found The Last Battle distinctly bizarre
November 26, 2025 at 9:44 PM
As a child with no grounding in Christian apocalypticism, I found The Last Battle distinctly bizarre
I couldn't get either of my boys interested in it. They each read one or two of the books, but then wandered away.
November 26, 2025 at 8:46 PM
I couldn't get either of my boys interested in it. They each read one or two of the books, but then wandered away.
Thank you!
November 26, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Thank you!