I. The Common Eel (AiKjuilhi nih/aris. Tnrtoii) gets a parti- 



cular breeding-dress before its emigration to the sea. — 



The bearings of this faet on the ciassification and on 



the practicai eei-fisheries. 



By C. G. Joh. Petersen. 



With 2 lithographic piates. 



1 lie foiimion ecl gets ii breediiig-tlress wliicli in iiiaiiy, and in part 

 vei y essential, featuren differs from the growing dress. As the systematists 

 have liitherto not uuderstood this correetly, and the various forms of cels, 

 therefore, luive been miscoustrued in niany ways, I shall liere render a some- 

 what closer aecount of the varions forms witliin this species of tlie eel (An- 

 (jtdlla i-iil</(iriii, TtirtunJ and show their nuitual relations and liearings. as 

 far as niy investigations iuto this matter go. 



The Yellow Eels. 



W'hen in summertime we examine the eels eaught I )y ovu' tishermen in 

 tho .salt waters with seines or on hooks, or when we take the eels in handasthey 

 are speared iu our fjords in winter-time, we may be pretty sure tluit almost 

 all of them belong to the category of eels wliich the tisliermen and fish- 

 mongers call the i/elloir eeh (»gule Aal«, in .Jutlund :A'esaal".). i. e. eels in their 

 growiug-dress. — In certain fjords, however, towards autunui, ])articularly in 

 the montii of August, we may amoug the yellow eels get others whieh tlu' 

 tishermen eall !<Hver ccLs (»blanke Aal <, in .lutland »Gaardaal«) i. e. eels in their 

 breediug dress; but if we ask a skillful lisherman to sort out the latter we 



