FISHES. 575 



like the sharp-nosed eel. The annual migrations of the 

 sharp-nosed eels take place about the end of October, 

 always choosing a dark night. [And Mlsson corroborates 

 all these remarks, and especially respecting the biting of the 

 broad-nosed eel, which, as the fishermen here say, is c arg/ 

 savage, and ' hugger som en orm/ bites like a snake.] 

 In the great eel fishery at Toome, on the Lower Bann, fifty 

 to sixty tons of eels are annually caught at the season of 

 migration. As many as 70,000 have been taken here in 

 one night, all sharp-nosed, with the exception of perhaps 

 a dozen, which have been mixed with them. 



1 ' What becomes of the sharp-nosed eels that descend to 

 the sea every season do they remain in the brackish waters 

 of the estuaries, or do they return in small detachments at 

 various periods ? This remains to be solved. As none are 

 observed to return, how is their supply replenished ? Why, 

 by the ascent of myriads of sharp-nosed eels next spring." 



The migrations of the old, eels down to the sea in 

 October, and of the young fry up the rivers again in the 

 summer, are as regular on these coasts as in Britain ; so 

 there is little doubt in my mind that the sharp-nosed eels 

 descend to the sea to spawn in brackish water, and the old 

 fish do not return to fresh water again. Mr. Young, as 

 quoted by Yarrell, says " They spawn in the Shin in fresh 

 water. The old ones deposit the spawn in the summer, 

 which becomes vivid in September or October, but remains 

 under the gravel, in the spawning beds, until the following- 

 April or May." It would have been interesting if he had 

 stated which eel it was that spawned in the Shin, for he only 

 notices the habits of the river eels, not distinguishing the 

 sharp-nosed from the broad-nosed. 



The eel would appear to be of slow growth, attaining 

 a length of about 12 in. during the first year, and not capable 

 of maturing roe till about the third year. 



Gen. Conger, Cuv. 



Dorsal commencing close over, or behind the pectorals ; 

 upper jaw longest. 



