357 



THE SILURUS. THE WELS, OR 

 SHEAT-FISH. 



(Silui'us glanis. Mustela harhatida.) 



German : Dcr Vels, Weller, Harsa. Danish : Malle. Swedish : 



Mai. French : Le Silure. 



My friend Mr. T. R. Sachs has taken a very great deal 

 of pains to obtain all the information he can relative to 

 this fish. In Land and Water, January 20, 1875, he 

 gives an abstract from Herr Max von dem Borne's 

 *' Handbiich der Angelfischerei Hempel and Barey, 

 Berlin," as follows : — 



" This fish is called the ' Vels,' and also the ' Waller 

 Schaiden.' He feeds on fish, worms, and snaall fry, 

 and especially frogs. During the day he hides himself 

 in holes, weeds, under banks, &c. 



" He is seldom netted, but caught w^itli night lines, 

 baited with gudgeon. In hot weather he basks on the 

 surface and then is caught by a harpoon or fish spear. 

 They spawn in June and July near the banks. The eggs 

 are of a greenish colour, not numerous in proportion to 

 the size of the fish. It has been ascertained they hatch 

 out in about 18 days. As a pond fish he does very 

 well, and quantities are bred for the fish market, one of 

 8lbs. to lOlbs. being considered the best for the table." 



The silurus grows to a very large size, and is said to 

 take sometimes a goose, or a wild or tame duck (in this 

 respect he is not worse than a pike). There are 

 several casts of silurus in my museum. South Kensing- 

 ton. The first I received from Mr. Sachs, in January, 

 1875. Herr Max von dem Borne was kind enough to 

 catch this fish for us at Witsterw^itz, near Berlin. He 

 weighed 181bs., and measured 8ft. lOin. in length. In 



