EELS IN WATER PIPES AND THEIR MIGRATION. — BISHOP. G47 



out of water for several liours without auy iueonvenienee. As 

 they can move throu<>li wet grass very readily, it is therefore 

 evident that tliey ean ti-avel overhmd for considerahh' dis- 

 tances shouhl occasion recjuire it. 



Wiiat would likely he the most ert'ectual wav to i)i"event 

 tiiem from <;ettini>,' into the lakes, would he to i)nt lime in the 

 stream every evening, commencing in the spring as soon as the 

 stream is free from ice, and continuing tuitil the ndgratory 

 season is over. It is a well known fact that eels have a great 

 dislike for lime, and it is not at all likely tluy would enter a 

 stream where the water was charged with it. Lime is often 

 used in earth dams to prevent eels from baring through and 

 thus catisiiig leaks or wasliouts. 



1 expect to continue catching eels hoth at tlie intake and in 

 tlte oveiHow streau), to deternune whether their inimbers will 

 be lessened in the lake, and if by taking the small ones <m their 

 way to the lake, it will decrease their mnnbers returning to the 

 sea in the autumn. 



Since the trap has been in use, there have only been two or 

 three eels taken from the service pi]jes each year ; whereas, in 

 former year \ f'-oiii thirty to fifty were taken out of the water 

 pipes each autumn during the downward migratory season. This 

 proves conclusively that the work for which it was intended, 

 that is, to catch the eels at the intake and thus prevent them 

 from entering the water-nuiins, has been successfully accom- 

 plished by the trap. 



Tn conclusion, I tind that this troublesome fish goes np 

 sti'cams in the spring months in large numbers, and that during 

 the autunm the mature^ fish returns to the sea. During the 

 summer months a few are caught in the tra]i, but I attribute 

 this to accident instead of migration. The eels are si'mply 

 feeding around or looking for a dark s])ot in which to hide 

 during the day, and thus get entrap])ed. 



That they can be effectually stopped from getting into tlie 

 service pipes is certain if sufHci'ent care is taken. 



