292 



SEVENTH REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



wheat, corn, lettuce and cabbage. Its growth is remarkable. A Leather Carp has 

 fully doubled its weight in one year. 



Linneeus says the Carp was introduced into England about the year 1600. 

 DeKay places the first introduction into New York waters in the year 183 1, and 

 publishes a letter of Henry Robinson, Newburgh, Orange Co., who brought them 

 from France, reared and bred them successfully in his ponds, and planted from one 

 dozen to two dozen at a time in the Hudson during the four years preceding his 

 letter. Mr. Robinson stated that they increased greatly and were frequently taken 

 by fishermen in their nets. 



36. Eel {Anguilla clirysypa Rafinesque). 



Anguilla chrisypa Rafinesque, Amer. Month. Mag., 11, 120, Dec, 1817. 



Anguilla tenuirostris DeKay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 310, ])1. 53, fig. 173, 1842 ; Bean, 



Fishes Penna., 95, pi. 30, fig. 58, 1893. 

 Anguilla chrysypa Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus., I, 348 1S96, pi. LV, 



fig. 143' 'Ooo- 



■/ 



The Eel appears to have only one common name. It is one of the best known 

 and most singular of our fishes, yet its breeding habits have only recently been 

 observed. The species ascends the rivers of Eastern North America from the Gulf 

 of .St. Lawrence to Mexico, the former being the northern limit of the species on 

 our coast. In the Ohio and Mississippi \'alleys it is extremely common and its 

 range has been much e.xtended by the oj^ening of canals and by artificial introduc- 

 tion. It has been transferred to the Pacific coast. 



The Eel hr.s been known to exceed a length of 4 feet. The average length of 

 individuals, iiowever, is about 2 feet. The female is larger than the male, paler in 

 color, and is different in certain other particulars, which are oientioned in the 

 descriptions of the species. 



This is a very important food fish. It is caught chiefly when descending the 

 rivers in the fall. In 1869 about a ton of eels were caught in a single fish basket 



