570 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



[32] 



The following is the method employed by Mr. Haack for packing 

 them and transporting them from Pisa to Hiiningen. He employs large, 

 square baskets lined with coarse cloth (jute), the inside being divided 

 into several horizontal compartments, which are produced by pieces of 

 cloth being sewed to one side of the cloth which forms the lining. In 

 each compartment are placed branches of Potamogeton pectinatum or 

 Potamogeton crispzim, which afford hiding-places to the young eels, and 

 which, owing to their peculiar elasticity, protect them from the danger 

 of being crushed. Layers of Potamogeton and eels alternate, until the 

 compartment is comfortably rilled, when another cloth is drawn out, 

 which receives other alternate layers of Potamogeton and young eels. 

 If the plants are sprinkled a little they will supply enough moisture to 

 keep the young eels alive. These packages are sent from Pisa to Basel 

 by way of the St. Gothard tunnel, special directions being given the 

 employes of the railroad to forward them promptly. Prom Basel they 

 are conveyed to the imperial fish-cultural establishment of Hiiningen 

 on wagons. 



As soon as the eels arrive at their destination they are, together with 

 the plants which have protected them during their journey, placed in 

 water on the hatching-tables or in open tanus, where they move about 

 very nimbly, trying to avoid the light. The dead ones are picked out 

 when the plants are taken away, and afterwards during the daily visits. 



Fish-cultural establishments or private individuals in Germany who 

 wish to obtain young eels get them from Hiiningen. This has already 

 been done by the Eadolfszell establishment, which has placed them in 

 the Lake of Constance, in the hope that after some time they will again 

 make their appearance when they have reached a greater size. Al- 

 though in Italy we are more favorably situated in this respect than Mr. 

 Haack, as we have plenty of young eels, we should nevertheless follow 

 his example and increase this useful species of fish in our waters. 



At Neuhausen I saw an apparatus (eel-way) intended to favor the 



retention oi' the young eels which, have reached the water above the 

 famous falls of the Plhine. (See Pig. 8.) 



