FISHES 



valuable fish will remain in it. The spawning season 

 in our waters commences in June and seems to last 

 till August. The fish are very prolific, make rapid 

 growth, and attain a large size, specimens weighing 

 over twenty pounds having frequently been taken in 

 American waters, while in Europe they have been 

 known to reach ninety pounds. 



ORDER APODES. (The Eels.) 

 ANGUILLIDAE. (The True Eels.) 



19. American Eel. Anguilla chrysypa (Rafin- 

 esque). Common in Lake Ontario and all waters 

 falling into it. Until recently the reproduction of 

 the Eel has been involved in mystery, but the careful 

 investigations of competent observers have resulted 

 in showing that the Eel spawns in salt water, usually 

 on mud banks off the mouths of rivers, to which they 

 resort in late autumn. When the young Eels are 

 from two to three inches long they ascend the rivers 

 in vast numbers, travelling continually until they 

 meet some obstacle which cannot be overcome. Pro- 

 fessor Baird has estimated " that in the summer one 

 may see hundreds of waggon loads of young Eels at 

 the foot of Niagara Falls, crawling over the rocks 

 and squirming in the seething waters." Where the 

 obstruction to their passage permits it, the fish will 

 leave the water and travel through wet grass in order 

 to continue their journey. As a food fish Eels are 



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