L 170 ] 
N° XIII. 
Obfervations on the Numb Fifh, or Torporific Eel, by 
Henry Coruins Frace, South-Carolina. 
Read March 
an DO myfelf the pleafure, though Jate I con- 
fia fefs, to comply with my promife of commu- 
nicating fome obfervations on the Numb Fifth, or Torpo- 
rific Eel, which I think a more proper name. ‘Thefe ob- 
fervations are contained in two letters I had the honor to 
write to the Rev. Dr. Stiles, a member of your philofo- 
phical fociety, from Rio Effequebo. Pleafe to accept the 
following extracts. 
The apparent difference between the torporific eel and 
that ufually caught in your harbour is, the former is flatter 
on the back and head, the upper part of which is perfo- 
rated with feveral holes*, and has on each fide, behind, a 
{mall fin which fome fay are elevated or depreffed as the 
fith is pleafed or not; the body I think is larger in pro- 
portion to the length, and it has a broad fin connected to 
the belly and continued to the tail. 1 have feen this fith 
four feet long. The fenfation occafioned by touching it 
appeared to me exadtly fimilar to an electric fhock. I have 
as yet been able to procure only one of thefe eels, and that 
was injured by laying too long dry before it came to me. 
The following are the remarks I made the little time it 
lived. I received the fifh from a negro m a wicker, bafket, 
and laying it on the ground felt a confiderable fhock, as I 
did too when I turned the fith out of the bafket into a tub 
of 
* Thefe holes do not penetrate to the mouth, nor could I difcover the ufe of them. But 1 
was not fufficiently exaét in my diflection of the head, or I think 1 might have found the ter- 
mination of thefe ducts. 
+ This is true. 
