In autumn, eels leave the rivers to travel on a once-in-a-lifetime journey through the Sargasso Sea, then the Atlantic Ocean, where they breed. Strange origin stories about eels have cropped up through the centuries. Some believed eels were formed from tufts of horsehair tossed into streams, or that they sprang from the slime of other fish. Greek philosopher Aristotle claimed that they sprang up spontaneously from the mud. Though they many fear that eels will attack swimmers and suck out their blood, eels have long been a staple of folklore medicine. Eel oil was said to cure deafness, and wearing eel skin garters on your legs prevents cramps and cures bouts of rheumatism. Powdered eel livers were fed to expectant mothers to ease the birth, rubbing eels' blood on warts. Smearing eel fat ointment on one’s self was supposed to enable a person to see fairies, and eating the heart of an eel would allow them to see into the future. It was advised to never consume an entire eel to avoid being struck mute. When fishing for eels, the best time is during stormy weather as it is said to untangle them and agitate them into the open. Capes made of eel skin were thought to render the wearer impervious to harm.
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