THE EELS. 289 



of the species, both the male and female eel must enter 

 salt water to develop properly the generative organs. 

 The female organs of generation appear as frill-like bands, 

 rather broad, extending from the liver as far as the vent, 

 which bands contain a large quantity of fat. 



Day supposes there are females which may be either 

 permanently or temporarily sterile, and which have the 

 ovaries in a very anomalous condition. Instead of the 

 fatty frilled band there is only a thin frothy-looking band, 

 destitute of fat, and having very few folds, often trans- 

 parent as glass. These eels, he says, have generally, but 

 not invariably, been found to be very broad -headed ones, 

 possessing very small eyes. Those found in brackish 

 water- marshes are much sought after by epicures as 

 having a delicious flavour. 



Eels are found in almost all our rivers, lakes, and ponds. 

 They prefer clear, pure water with a muddy bottom, are 

 very tenacious of life, yet are easily affected by sudden 

 change of temperature. The white- bellied or silver eel is 

 the most esteemed for the table. 



Eels are certainly able to travel over moist fields from 

 one pond to another, which may probably account for eels 

 being found in ponds and pits, which they could not have 

 reached in any other way. They are very susceptible of 

 cold, and are found at times in the winter huddled together 

 in the mud. 



The young eels ascend from the sea in the spring in 

 enormous numbers. They are called Elvers, a corruption 

 of Eel/are, fare being a Saxon word signifying to go, to 

 pass, or to travel. They mount all obstacles to gain the 

 upper part of the rivers, and these elvers are caught in 

 great numbers, thrown into a tub of salt, then boiled and 

 pressed into cakes, cut in slices and fried, and are very 

 good eating. 



Mr. Sealy, of Bridgewater, proved that it took 14,087 of 

 elvers to make a pound-cake, or upwards of three millions 

 to the ton. What a serious injury must arise from making 

 these cakes ! In one day in 1886 three tons of elvers were 

 sent from the Gloucester district to make into elver-cakes. 

 The consumption of eels in London is over 1500 tons a 



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