FISHES OF THE CONNECTICUT LAKES. 37 
The distribution of the eel on the Atlantic coast and in the inland 
waters of eastern North America is pretty extensive, ranging from as 
far north, at least, as the St. Lawrence River and south to the Gulf of 
Mexico and West Indies; ascending all rivers within its range, often- 
times to their very sources. 
It is very common in the Connecticut Lakes. It was collected in 
First and Second lakes but not in Third, though it doubtless occurs 
there. In fresh water the eel sometimes reaches a monstrous size, 
one weighing 13 pounds having been reported. Those caught in the 
Connecticut Lakes were not weighed, but 4 specimens measured, 
respectively, 27.75, 28.75, 82.20, and 33 inches in total length. 
In lakes during the daytime the eel remains in rather deep water, 
approaching the shore at night to feed. Specimens were caught in 
these lakes in water from 30 to 60 feet deep. Some of them were 
caught on night lines, others on live bait in stillfishing, at which 
time some were hooked when not more than 5 or 10 feet below the 
surface, although the water was about 60 feet deep. The bottom 
here was soft mud. 
The eel subsists upon almost any kind of animal food. It can and 
does catch live fish for itself and feeds also upon worms, insect larvee, 
small mollusks, and not infrequently upon fish eggs when they are 
obtainable. 
The spawning habits of the eel are not fully understood. ‘The 
sexes are easily distinguished by an examination of the internal repro- 
ductive organs, which extend along the backbone and are commonly 
regarded as fringes of fat. It is elaimed by some that only female 
eels occur in fresh water, which they enter as young fish. When 
ready to spawn they descend to salt water. Spawning takes place in 
late fall or early winter, and the females, at least, are said to die after 
performing that function. In early summer myriads of young eels 
but a few inches long are observed ascending the streams and rivers. 
It seems to require a formidable obstruction to stop their progress, 
nothing short of a cataract sufficing. The very young of the eel be- 
fore the anadromous migration begins is a peculiar, colorless, trans- 
parent, ribbon-shaped larva, called the Leptocephalus stage, bearing 
but little resemblance to an eel. 
In winter, in cold localities like New England, the eel burrows in 
soft mud, and there hibernates. It is a valuable market fish and by 
many is highly esteemed as food. It is usually caught for the market 
by means of traps, weirs, and pots, or by spearing in the mud during 
the hibernation period. 
The angler sometimes hooks an eel which by its vigorous pulling, 
tugging, and shaking causes him to think that he has a trout of 
generous proportions. But dismay, disgust, and infinite trouble and 
slime accompany the advent of the capture into the boat. 
