a.  The passage of young eels up a river. b. A brood of young eels (see ELVER).

1

1533.  Act 25 Hen. VIII., c. vii. Any frye, spaume, or brode of yeles, called yele fares, or Ell vares.

2

1721–1800.  Bailey, Eel-fares, -vares, a Fry or Brood of Eels.

3

1836.  Yarrell, Brit. Fishes (1859), I. 54. This passage of young Eels is called Eel-fare on the banks of the Thames.

4

1883.  G. C. Davies, Norfolk Broads, xxxi. 235. This ‘eel-fare’ lasts several days.

5