CONGER EEL. 233 



as I said before, pass the winter in the deepest 

 parts of the mud of rivers and lakes, and do 

 not seem to eat much, and remain, I believe, 

 almost torpid. Their increase is not certainly 

 known in any given time, but must depend 

 upon the quantity of their food : but it is pro- 

 bable they do not become of the largest size, 

 from the smallest, in one or even two seasons ; 

 but this, as well as many other particulars, 

 can only be ascertained by new observations 

 and experiments. Bloch states, that they 

 grow slowly; and mentions, that some had 

 been kept in the same pond for fifteen years. 

 As very large eels, after having migrated, 

 never return to the river again, they must 

 (for it cannot be supposed that they all die 

 immediately in the sea) remain in salt water ; 

 and there is great probability, that they are 

 then confounded with the conger, which is 

 found of different colours and sizes — from 

 the smallest to the larjjest — from a few 

 ounces to one hundred pounds in weight. 

 The colour of the conger is generally paler 

 than that of the eel ; but, in the Atlantic, it 

 is said, that pale congers are found on one 



