384 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [22] 



^Nevertheless, no ''blank eels" are caught except late in summer and in 

 autumn; and the stationary eels, the "grass eels," have never bex^n no- 

 ticed to migrate any distance. It has not yet been fully explained what 

 relation exists between the stationary and the migratory eels. A Danish 

 gentleman, T. Leth, who has given some attention to this subject, has 

 in thei^i.9/.m7i(?en^6advancedtheopinion thatthe "blank eeP'is nothing 

 but the " grass eel " in its " wedding dress." He has in the Copenhagen 

 fish-market examined a large number of eels and found many transition 

 stages from the yellowcolored " grass eel " to the white or silver-gray 

 "blank eel " Many circumstances favor Mr. Leth's opinion, and 1 he dif- 

 ference of color among eels deserves to be studied more thoroughly, es- 

 pecially in our inland waters, where yellow eels are also found. 



As has already been stated, the "grass eels" do not form the object 

 of any considerable fisheries. They are canght principally with lines, 

 and on the east coast sometimes in wicker fish-baskets. But these fish- 

 eries are very unimportant when compared with the autumn fisheries 

 for migratory eels, when Jiommor, a sort offish-baskets, are used. 



Theliest season for the'ecl fisheries is late in summer and in autumn. 

 The fishermen consider dark nights the best for eel fishing, because on 

 moonlight nights the eels keep in the depths. On the east coast of 

 Skane the fisheries begin in the middle or toward the end of August. 

 The best fisheries are generally in September and October. In the 

 Sound the eel fisheries begin toward the end of September, and the 

 best fishing is generally in October. As soon as snow begins to tall 

 and cold weather sets in, the eel fisheries come to an end. 



The result of the Skane eel fisheries during the three years 1870 to 

 1881, inclusive, was as follows: 



Year. 



Pounds. I Value. 



440,634 I $44,284.05 



1879 2:12,853 23,248.19 



18S!| ;..'..... 147.293 16,073.50 



The most of the eels caught are sold fresh, and only a few are salted 

 or smoked. The eels caught on the east coast of Skane are mainly 

 bought up by German fish-dealers who have sailing vessels which from 

 the central station of Kivik visit the neighboring stations and receive 

 the eels before niohtfall. The average price paid by these merchants 

 is about $2 for 18.^ ixmiids. 



The cod and flounder fisheries. — The cod and also the i)laice 

 and other varieties of the flounder are found near the coast of Skane all 

 the year round and form the object of fisheries, excei)t during the season 

 of the herring fisheries, when only old persons who can no longer engage 

 in the herring fisheries continue to catch cod and flounders. The farther 

 away one gets from the Catte^at and the Sound the less important do 



