Green’s Dictionary of Slang

live eels n.

fields.

1857		‘Ducange Anglicus’ Vulgar Tongue.
1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict.
1887		J.W. Horsley Jottings from Jail 3: Call a flounder and dab with a tidy Charing Cross, and we’ll go for a Bushey Park along the frog and toad into the live eels.