130 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



fact that eels migrate to the sea where in the course of six to eight 

 weeks their sexual organs attain their full development when the old 

 males as well as females die after having accomi^lished the reproductive 

 act; there is no scientific ground, to the best of my knowledge, which 

 would lend support to this assumption. What was considered as only- 

 probable by Von Siebold and Jacoby is, as it appears, assumed by Cattie 

 to be proven. 



Cattie farther repeats Jacoby's suggestion, that perhaps as a conse- 

 quence of an acquaintance with the experience of Giinther referred to 

 by Darwin, that in almost all fishes the male is smaller than the female, 

 it occurred to Syrski to investigate the smaller eels. This assertion is 

 without foundation. Syrski was led to his discovery without having 

 had any hints from others. In his paper cited above he remarks as fol- 

 lows upon this point: '' So I selected for my investigations the smallest 

 eels I could possibly find, reflecting as I did so upon the fact that in 

 many species of the animal kingdom the male is smaller than the 

 female." Syrski writes me complaiuing bitterly that any one should 

 compare this clear expression with the former and regard it the same, 

 and that he knew nothing of the views of Giinther and Darwin, with 

 which he was moreover made acquainted only through Jacoby's paper. 



Finally, as regards the distinction of the male from the female eels by 

 external characters, those sent me from the Schleswig coast during the 

 month of November presented such great differences in their coloration 

 that the sender, the Eoyal Fish Inspector Hinkelmann, could indicate 

 beforehand the number of each sex. 



The males were distinguished by a striking bronzy metallic luster, 

 while the females of the same size were of an almost uniform dull steel- 

 gray color. Amongst the males a number of examples were found 

 measuring 45 centimeters long, while Syrski found none over 43 centi- 

 meters in length. In Comacchio Jacoby was so fortunate as to find a 

 specimen 48 centimeters long. 



OFFICIAL PAPERS KEliATING TO THE PROPOSED IIVTERIVA- 

 TIOIVAI. FISHERIES EXHIBITIOIV AT EDIIVBIJROH IN 1S83. 



DEPATiTMENT OF StATE, 



Washington, August 1, 1881. 



Sib : I inclose herewith, for your information, a copy of a dispatch of 

 the 15th ultimo, from the vice-consul at Leith, with the inclosures, relat- 

 ing to the international fisheries exhibition to be held at Edinburgh, 

 in April next. Any remarks you may deem proper to make for the 

 information of the vice consul will be communicated to him. 



I am, sir, your obedient servant, 



ROBEET E. HITT, 



Assistmit Secretary. 



Spencer F. Bated, Esq., 



Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 



