ANQUIIJ.ID^. 



185 



APODAL 

 MALACOPTERV(;iI. 



ANGUILLID.E. 



THE EEL. 



Anguilla ; Auctoram. 



Although I in no respect regard the Eel as worthy of the notice 

 of the angler, a volume on fish and fishing would be incomplete, had 

 it not some allusion to this singular fish, which is, moreover, very 

 excellent on the table. 



The family to which it belongs is of a different order from any 

 which have been enumerated, that of the apodal Malacopterygii, or 

 soft-finned fishes, destitute of ventrals. They have slender and elon- 

 gated bodies, without apparent scales, these being deeply imbedded in 

 mucous skin. Gill-covers they have none, the gill-openings are small, 

 before, and rather below the origin of the pectoral fins. The dorsal 

 fin extends above two-thirds, and the anal above one-half the length 

 of the whole fish, both united at the end, and forming a tail. The 

 lateral line exhibits a series of mucous orifices. 



The general color is hair-brown, varying to glossy bluish green, 



